Angela Bassett breaks silence on Ariana DeBose's BAFTAs rap backlash

26 February 2023 , 20:57

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Angela Bassett breaks silence on Ariana DeBose's BAFTAs rap backlash

Angela Bassett has spoken out for the first time since Ariana DeBose's viral BAFTA'a rap that included a line about her actress "doing the thing."

9-1-1 star Angela, 64, admitted on Sunday (February 26) that she had messaged the West Side Story star to ask if she is ok.

Ariana, 32, performed a rap about the female nominees at the prestigious ceremony last Sunday including the lyrics "Angela Bassett did the thing" as she popped her shoulder, sparking a meme and a wave of backlash from viewers.

Following the performance, the rapper was criticised so heavily that she deleted her Twitter account within two days of the ceremony.

Angela admitted she had messaged Ariana (Getty Images)

Speaking to Variety at the 54th NAACP Awards Angela admitted she was concerned for the star as she offered her support to her.

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She said: "I DM'd her last night. I just wanted to make sure she was okay because, you know, it's a lot of attention. And she is A-Okay."

Angela - who stars in Marvel hit movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever also called Arianna's performance "beautiful."

Ariana issued a public statement over the performance which has been slated as an 'embarrassing' opening for the iconic BAFTAs with 76 years of history to live up to.

The backlash against her led to Ariana coming off Twitter, but she later returned after she saw a meme account dedicated to her on Instagram.

Ariana's performance became a huge talking point (Getty Images for BAFTA)

One image shows former US President George W. Bush being told about the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center by former Chief Of Staff Andy Card

Layered over the picture are the words: "Sir, Angela Bassett did the thing."

Seeing the funny side Ariana responded to the post on Tuesday writing: "Honestly, I love this."

Arianna's performance on Sunday saw her flanked by dancers who wore layered outfits they tore off as she name-checked a roll call of famous ladies in the show's audience.

But fans weren't impressed by the offering and took to Twitter to slam the routine as "painful" and "awkward," with one even questioning: "Why did this happen?"

Angela was mentioned in the rap (Corbis via Getty Images)

Ariana was not a hit with viewers (Getty Images for BAFTA)

A second scathed: "Absolutely awful she wouldn't get a single turn on The Voice."

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A third agreed: "It was awful."

A fourth social media user tweeted: "Got a lot of time for the celebs who smiled charmingly and awkwardly during Ariana DeBose's painful BAFTA rap."

A fifth said: "Ariana DeBose doing an absurd rap about the women up for things. She is, however, such a pro so hardly matters."

British actor Richard E. Grant hosted the 76th EE British Academy Film Awards alongside Alison Hammond at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

Ayeesha Walsh