LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Nominations will be announced today for the GLAAD Media Awards, but the Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” won't be among the best-picture hopefuls, with the LGBTQ-advocacy organization having pulled the movie from contention due to sexual misconduct allegations against director Bryan Singer.
Nominations for the awards, which honor films for fair and inclusive representations of LGBTQ people and issues, will be announced during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The awards will be presented March 28 in Beverly Hills.
GLAAD officials issued a statement Thursday saying “Bohemian Rhapsody” will not be considered for the “outstanding film -- wide release” category in light of the allegations made against Singer in a story published this week in The Atlantic. The story includes allegations by unnamed men who claim they had sex with Singer when they were underage.
Singer issued a statement Wednesday saying the story was partly written “by a homophobic journalist who has a bizarre obsession with me.” He criticized The Atlantic for stooping “to this low standard of journalistic integrity.”
GLAAD officials said the organization “has made the difficult decision” to remove “Bohemian Rhapsody” from contention for its top film award.
“This week's story in The Atlantic documenting unspeakable harms endured by young men and teenage boys brought to light a reality that cannot be ignored or even tacitly rewarded,” according to GLAAD. “Singer's response to The Atlantic story wrongfully used `homophobia' to deflect from sexual assault allegations and GLAAD urges the media and the industry at large to not gloss over the fact that survivors of sexual assault should be put first.”
“Bohemian Rhapsody” earned five Oscar nominations on Tuesday, including best picture and a best actor nod for Rami Malek for his portrayal of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury. The film won the Golden Globe for best drama film.
Singer was fired from the movie near the end of filming, with Singer saying he needed to leave the set to care for his ailing mother. He was replaced by Dexter Fletcher.
GLAAD officials said the impact of “Bohemian Rhapsody” on the community is “undeniable.”
“We believe, however, that we must send a clear and unequivocal message to LGBTQ youth and all survivors of sexual assault that GLAAD and our community will stand with survivors and will not be silent when it comes to protecting them from those who would do them harm,” according to GLAAD.
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