BAFTAs 2019: Andy Serkis insults Queen with Freddie Mercury dig

British actor Andy Serkis and US actress Danai Gurira in the press room during the 72nd annual British Academy Film Awards (Credit: EFE/EPA/NIK HALLEN)
British actor Andy Serkis and US actress Danai Gurira in the press room during the 72nd annual British Academy Film Awards (Credit: EFE/EPA/NIK HALLEN)

Andy Serkis appeared to have a dig at the rock band Queen while presenting with Danai Gurira at the 2019 BAFTAs on Sunday night.

The Gollum actor was on stage to present the Original Music award and mentioned the rock band, whose members Brian May and Roger Taylor were in the audience.

Serkis said: “film without music would be Laurel without Hardy, like Queen without Freddie Mercury or like Britain without Europe.”

Considering that Queen has been touring for years without the late singer, filling the frontman’s shoes with Adam Lambert’s, the comment certainly seems like an insult.

People on Twitter certainly thought so:

They also loved the Brexit joke:

The surviving members of Queen were in the audience to support their movie Bohemian Rhapsody which was up for seven nominations.

The film has proved to be a controversial one because of the allegations of child sex abuse made against director Bryan Singer.

BAFTA confirmed they had taken Singer’s name off the movie’s nominations following these claims.

Rami Malek won the award for Leading Actor for playing Freddie Mercury and the film also picked up the BAFTA for Best Sound.


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