Rebel Wilson Pulled Up Over 'Transgender Face' BAFTA Joke

While Rebel Wilson’s BAFTA appearance might well have stolen the show thanks to a gag about Idris Elba and ‘Valentine’s Day chocolate’, some are slating her another joke during her presenting duties last night.

The Australian 'Bridesmaids’ star slipped in that she hoped to win a BAFTA one day, and had been practising my transgender face’.

While some at the star-studded event laughed, elsewhere others have found it less funny.

Many have already posted their offence on social media.

LGBT activists have criticised Hollywood in recent years for rewarding non-transgender actors playing transgender roles, dubbing it 'transface’ – likening it to 'blackface’.

Eddie Redmayne was up for a BAFTA last night for his role in 'The Danish Girl’, in which he plays the transgender pioneer Lile Elbe, though the film failed to convert any of its five nominations.

Redmayne’s also up for an Oscar for his performance.

Wilson’s speech, as she presented the award for Best Supporting Actor, was one of the talking points of the evening.

“I have never been invited to the Oscars,’ she said, reading from a piece of paper. “Because as we know they are racists.

“But the BAFTAs have diverse members. And thats what we all want to see in life, isn’t it? Diverse members.”

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Image credit: AP/BBC