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Crunch cancels black Baftas
Louise Jury5 Dec 2008
Britain's "black Baftas" have been called off because of the financial crisis.
The Screen Nation Awards 2008 will not go ahead as planned at the London Hilton on Sunday.
The ceremony, which is dedicated to championing black performers, was due to honour stars including Whoopi Goldberg and Don Warrington.
But the organisers faced a 30 per cent cut in funding when an unnamed partner was hit by the economic slowdown.
The nominees included Lennie James for the Channel 4 drama Fallout, about a murder similar to that of teenager Stephen Lawrence.
Performers in the music categories included Estelle and Leona Lewis.
Charles Thompson, who founded the awards six years ago protesting that black performers were not receiving appropriate recognition in traditional award shows, is now looking for alternative backers.
Reader views (6)
Hurrah and frankly I hope the real reason the funding has been withdrawn is because the backers, some of whom were well aware after last year's event, have realise that it is inappropriate to support an organiser of an event whose intention is to deceive and act in a way that is intentionally dishonestfrom the outset.
- S, London, 08/12/2008 16:39
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How sad is it that people from any ethnic background cannot celebrate the acheivement of actors and other media persons in their community. I believe it has been the press who have called it BLACK BAFTAS. I thought the event was called Screen Nation Awards. The Asian Community have the Zee TV Awards. Again there is no metion of it being called the ASIAN BAFTAS. Good Luck to these people who take time out to organise these events.
Maybe these awards were started for deeper reasons, has anyone taken the time out to question that. Duncan Walker good luck with your endeavours in Samui Thailand. If you should ever return to the UK maybe you could ring the organisers of these events and ask to attend the award shows to see them all first hand.
- Lorraine, london., 08/12/2008 13:46
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Well said Duncan. I totally agree. Why should there be any discrimination with this. They are all actors and should be treated as equal. The Black Baftas only shows that minorities do not want to be treated the same but want preferential treatment.
- Jan, London, 07/12/2008 21:21
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So called "positive discrimination" is still discrimination, no matter how you dress it up. Whether positive or negative, discrimination is never a good thing. After all, no-one would ever suggest a white baftas. Absurd.
- Ms, London, 07/12/2008 17:54
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Well said Duncan. Discrimination is discrimination. These awards were prob given to actors who quite frankly weren't talented enough to get any other award. In that case I may create my own award to massage my "oppressed" ego. "The Award for the Best Left Handed White Actor, with blond hair and blue eyes and of Scottish/English Parentage Living in a Terraced House with a Partner and a Brindle Boxer Dog goes to......
- Alan, Brighton, 06/12/2008 22:51
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Why is it OK to have black music awards, black baftas etc but if someone suggested an award ceremony championing white actors that would be unacceptable ? This whole discrimination thing has been so twisted and warped by these PC morons that it is totally out of order. Discrimination is discrimination no matter how you try to excuse it by calling it something else. STOP IT ALL !
- Duncan Walker, Ex Peckham now Samui Thailand, 06/12/2008 01:24
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