The 2024 BAFTA Film Awards were a triumphant night for “Oppenheimer,” as Christopher Nolan’s Oscar frontrunner steamrolled most of the major categories. In addition to winning the night’s top prize of Best Film and Best Director for Nolan, the nonfiction blockbuster also walked away with prizes for Editing, Cinematography, and Original Score. Stars Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. also won Leading Actor and Supporting Actor, respectively.
The evening gave Nolan and his team plenty to celebrate, and made an Academy Awards sweep seem even more likely. But the event was not without its setbacks. During their acceptance speech for Best Film, Nolan’s producing partner and wife Emma Thomas called for the entire cast to join them on stage. As actors flocked to the podium, many fans watching at home noticed a man with no connection to the film make his way to the stage and stand behind the speakers.
On Monday morning, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts addressed the strange event (via Deadline). The organization revealed that the man on stage was a YouTuber who crashed the speech as part of a prank. To avoid encouraging such behavior by giving him attention, the organization declined to reveal his identity after removing him from the venue.
“A social media prankster was removed by security last night after joining the winners of the final award on stage,” BAFTA said in a statement. “We are taking this very seriously, and don’t wish to grant him any publicity by commenting further.”
