A participant in Bafta’s initiative aimed at improving diversity in the UK’s film and TV industry has said she faced racist comments while on the scheme.
Speaking to the BBC, India Eva Rae described Elevate as a “PR exercise” designed to “clean up” Bafta’s image around issues of diversity.
Rae – who appeared in the Channel 4 TV series On the Edge – told the publication that Elevate participants were promised bespoke programmes that included meetings with casting directors as well as workshops.
In one meeting with an unnamed casting director, the actor alleges that she was referred to as an “exotic talent” in comparison to “our British talent”.
Rae also claims that the casting director told her: “I can’t understand the English coming out your mouth.”
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Rae claimed that when she turned to one of her mentors for advice, she was advised not to report the incident.
“This mentor told me and other members of the group that we will never work again if we speak up,” she said.
Bafta have said that Rae misunderstood the advice. According to the BBC, the academy said: “If a formal complaint is launched, it might pause participation to ensure a complainant was supported, but that they would consider extending their place on the programme.”
Bafta’s CEO Amanda Berry has addressed Rae’s claims, telling the BBC that they were made aware that Rae had a negative experience with a casting director, however, Berry denied that the incident occurred as part of the Elevate initiative.
“It is a matter of great sadness and regret for me that anyone would feel this way, and our door remains completely open to find a solution and to ensure that every participant benefits from the scheme,” Berry told the BBC. “I know that other participants have found this to be a truly fantastic opportunity.”
In a statement provided to The Hollywood Reporter, Bafta described the concerns raised by Rae as “one isolated incident”, stating that it would “investigate [it] urgently”.
Rae was one of 21 actors to join the Elevate’s 2019 intake.
The scheme was established in 2017 as a response to the criticism the academy faced for releasing all-white nomination lists in its leading actor and actress categories for that year’s ceremony.
