Adam Deacon Launches Furious Attack on BAFTAs Over Montage Snub
Actor Adam Deacon has unleashed a blistering critique of the British Academy Film Awards, alleging he was deliberately excluded from a montage celebrating past winners of the prestigious Rising Star Award. The 42-year-old performer, renowned for his role in the cult classic Kidulthood, took to social media platform X on Sunday night following the televised ceremony to voice his outrage and confusion.
"What Did I Do Wrong?" Deacon Demands Answers
In a series of impassioned posts, Deacon revealed his dismay at being the sole former recipient omitted from the retrospective segment. "So, I was right again," he wrote. "I was the only actor left out of the montage section of the Rising Star Award. I would love to know the reason behind this. What did I do wrong?"
The actor then suggested a potential motive, connecting the omission to his past actions in exposing a sexual predator within the industry. "Because I exposed a sexual predator? If I hadn't, more women would have been put in danger," he asserted. Deacon highlighted that his efforts contributed to legislative changes regarding filming nudity scenes in both the UK and the United States, stating, "The laws around filming nudity scenes in the UK and US have now been changed. Positive action has been taken."
Despite these reforms, Deacon expressed feeling ostracized, lamenting, "But yet, I'm the bad person... All this because I exposed this nonsense. But yet I have been banished from the BAFTAs. Honestly, this industry is a joke. From now on, I'll just do me."
Historical Context: The Noel Clarke Feud
This controversy is deeply intertwined with Deacon's longstanding and highly publicized feud with fellow actor and filmmaker Noel Clarke. In 2015, Deacon was found guilty of harassment without violence towards Clarke, resulting in a court order prohibiting contact and a £500 fine. Clarke had accused Deacon of orchestrating an online trolling campaign against him.
The rift originated years earlier when Clarke, who had been instrumental in launching Deacon's career by casting him in Kidulthood (2006) and its sequel Adulthood (2008), objected to Deacon's use of the title Anuvahood for a 2010 spoof film. Despite Clarke's initial support for the project, he insisted the name not be used due to copyright concerns. Deacon proceeded with the film, which ultimately earned him a BAFTA award, but the dispute escalated to Hammersmith Magistrates' Court.
Deacon has consistently denied the harassment allegations, counter-claiming that Clarke sought to sabotage his career. The situation has evolved further with recent developments concerning Clarke himself. Last month, Noel Clarke was declared bankrupt after losing a legal battle over allegations of sexual misconduct reported by The Guardian. The former Doctor Who star was ordered to pay at least £3 million in legal costs to the newspaper's publisher, with potential liabilities reaching £6 million.
BAFTA's Official Record and Ceremony Highlights
Despite his absence from the montage, Adam Deacon remains listed on the official BAFTA website among all past Rising Star Award winners, complete with a biographical note detailing his achievement. The Daily Mail has reached out to BAFTA for comment regarding Deacon's allegations, but no official statement has been issued at this time.
The 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards, held at London's Royal Festival Hall, saw One Battle After Another emerge as the night's dominant force, securing six awards including Best Film and Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson. The film had entered the ceremony with a record-breaking 14 nominations.
In a surprising turn, Timothee Chalamet, widely tipped to win Best Actor for his role in Marty Supreme, was defeated by British actor Robert Aramayo for his performance in I Swear. Aramayo's victory was met with an exuberant reaction from his father in the audience. Meanwhile, Jessie Buckley claimed the Best Actress award for Hamnet, solidifying her status as an Oscar favourite.
The EE Rising Star Award, voted for by the public, was won by Robert Aramayo, with other nominees including Miles Caton, Chase Infiniti, Archie Madekwe, and Posy Sterling. The complete list of winners underscores a diverse and competitive field in British and international cinema for the year.
