Bafta has suspended ”until further notice” Noel Clarke’s membership and his recent Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award in light of allegations of sexual misconduct in an article in The Guardian on Thursday (April 29). Clarke has denied the allegations.
An investigation by the newspaper revealed a number of women have accused the actor, writer and director, whose directing credits include Brotherhood and Adulthood, of “sexual harassment, unwanted touching or groping, sexually inappropriate behaviour and comments on set, professional misconduct, taking and sharing sexually explicit pictures and videos without consent, and bullying between 2004 and 2019”.
The article, in which The Guardian reporters spoke to 20 women, said Bafta executives were informed of the allegations 13 days prior to presenting Clarke with the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award on April 10.
The organisation did not dispute it received anonymous emails and reports of allegations via third parties, but said it had no evidence to investigate the matter.
Clarke has denied he is a serial predator and refuted all but one of the allegations put to him by The Guardian in a 29-page letter issued by his lawyers. He accepted he once made inappropriate comments about a woman and later apologised, and denied the rest of her allegations.
Clarke said in a statement: “In a 20-year career, I have put inclusivity and diversity at the forefront of my work and never had a complaint made against me. If anyone who has worked with me has ever felt uncomfortable or disrespected, I sincerely apologise. I vehemently deny any sexual misconduct or wrongdoing and intend to defend myself against these false allegations.”
In a statement issued by Bafta following the article, the organisation said, “In light of the allegations of serious misconduct regarding Noel Clarke in The Guardian this evening, Bafta has taken the decision to suspend his membership and the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award immediately and until further notice.”
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