The desperate push for diversity is causing more problems than it solves
Until the accusations against Noel Clarke have been fully investigated, wouldn’t it have made sense to hold back on awarding him a Bafta?
Actor Noel Clarke has been suspended by Bafta due to allegations of serious misconduct
Credit: Enterprise
This time last month Prince William was preparing to praise the British Academy of Film and Television Arts for its diversity. I say ‘preparing’, but the speech he was due to deliver to an audience of 1.9 million TV viewers would already have been pre-recorded. And having criticised the body’s lack of diversity last year – when Bafta put forward all-white shortlists for all the major acting categories – one imagines that the Duke of Cambridge’s address would have been impassioned, even celebratory.
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Noel Clarke is facing the prospect of a police investigation after seven more women came forward to accuse the Bafta star of a campaign of sexual harassment and bullying.
With 27 women now saying they were sexually harassed or groped by the celebrated actor and director, Scotland Yard has said it is assessing a specific allegation.
The Met Police confirmed that a third-party report was made on April 21 relating to allegations of sexual offences committed by a male over a period of time .
A third party report is when claims are made to an organisation separate from the police. This type of report is anonymous and means the claims cannot be probed by officers but can be used as intelligence.
Prince William was kept in the dark about Noel Clarke sex allegations ahead of speech that was due to praise Bafta for diversity before being cancelled because of Philip s death
Bafta President William was reportedly not told about allegations facing Noel Clarke ahead of academy s award presentation to Clarke at this year s ceremony
In total, 20 women have accused Clarke, 45, of sexual harassment and bullying in a series of shocking claims published by the Guardian newspaper on Thursday
Prince William was due to praise the academy for its diversity but his speech was cancelled after death of his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh the day before
Jahannah James says Noel Clarke secretly filmed her naked during an audition
The 31-year-old actress starred alongside Clark, 42, in the hit film Brotherhood
Ms James said she went to police at the time but officers would not investigate
She claims officers would only get involved if her threatened her with footage
Bafta winner Clarke is facing prospect of a police investigation after more claims
A total of 27 women claim they were sexually harassed or groped by Clarke
Met confirmed it is probing third-party report made on April 21 against Clarke
However Scotland Yard has today said it has not opened a criminal investigation