Steve McQueen says Baftas will have ‘no credibility’ if they continue to ignore diversity

Comments came after nomination controversy last week

Steve McQueen, the director of 12 Years a Slave and Widows, has warned that the Baftas will become obsolete if they continue to ignore diverse talent.

The Oscar-winning filmmaker was responding to the controversy over this year’s Bafta nominations, which failed to recognise any actors of colour or female directors.

“After a while you get a bit fed up with it,” he told The Guardian. “Because if the Baftas are not supporting British talent, if you’re not supporting the people who are making headway in the industry, then I don’t understand what you are there for.”

He added, “Unless the Baftas wants to be like the Grammys, which is of no interest to anyone, and has no credibility at all, then they should continue on this path. If not then they have to change. Fact.”

Last week, the Baftas earned criticism after failing to recognise non-white actors who have flourished at a number of awards ceremonies this year, including Awkwafina, Cynthia Erivo and Eddie Murphy.

Stars including Antonio Banderas and Jennifer Lopez were also snubbed, along with female filmmakers including Greta Gerwig, Lulu Wang, Marielle Heller and Joanna Hogg. Margot Robbie and Scarlett Johansson, meanwhile, both received two nominations in the acting categories.

The ceremony earned further backlash when Emma Baehr – the director of awards – appeared to blame the film industry for the lack of representation in nominees, rather than Bafta.

“We’d have liked to have seen more diversity in the nominations, it does continue to be an industry-wide issue,” she said in a statement.

“I think more films need to be made, and entered, giving people a chance to see them. We’d absolutely like to see more diversity, but I also don’t want to take away from those celebrating today.”