Kate Beckinsale's heart 'breaks all over again' over stepdad's death after award 'snub'
Actress Kate Beckinsale has hit out at the BAFTA awards after she was told her stepdad, Roy Battersby, may not be honored at the TV ceremony.
The Hollywood star’s stepdad passed away on January 10 at the age of 87. Like his stepdaughter, Roy had a prolific career in TV and film. He worked on many big projects such as Tomorrow’s World, Cracker, and Between the Lines. However, the Pearl Harbor actress explained she had been told he may not have a tribute in the in-memoriam section of this year’s television ceremony. She has hit out in an Instagram post and said she was “paralyzed” and “sickened.”
Kate Beckinsale hits out at BAFTA over her late stepdad
The celebrity shared a snap of herself with Roy from 1995 after she presented him with a lifetime achievement award from BAFTA. She penned her heart was “broken all over again.”
She wrote: “Today BAFTA told me they ‘could not guarantee’ he would be included in their ‘in memoriam’ tribute, to honor the industry members we have lost. So a man dead less than a week somehow has to audition in front of a committee after a decades-long career (in which he has been awarded from said organization the highest accolade they have) to decide IF his death is worth mentioning .
“If his work, his life, his craft, his mentoring, his heart and soul are worthy of a mention that he is gone. That, that has broken my heart all over again. I am paralyzed, sick, and sickened and I will honor him and his work every day of my life.”
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The 50-year-old’s family released a statement before her post which announced his death. In it, they said: “It is with great sorrow that the family of film and television director Roy Battersby announce the news of his recent death after a brief period of illness. He passed away peacefully on 10 January 2024, in Los Angeles surrounded by family, aged 87. Funeral will be held in London, details to follow.”
Underneath Kate Beckinsale’s post about her stepdad and BAFTA, many people showed their support for her.
“Oh, this is literal insult to injury, and completely unacceptable. I’m so sorry, we all know Roy’s worth [red heart emoji],” one person wrote.
Another commented: “I am so saddened & shocked to hear this. Get your act together @bafta this is one of our artistic greats. We need to honor those who have gone before & laid the ground for current TV & film creators.”
A third said: “@bafta come on how can you not recognize this incredible person! Very sad indeed!”
“Very sorry for the disrespect on his memory. My condolences,” a fourth penned.
BAFTA responds
After Kate Beckinsale’s post about her dad not receiving a tribute at this year’s BAFTA, the organization has responded. In a statement to Metro, they confirmed he will, in fact, be honored along with other famous faces we have lost in the last year.
The organizers of the awards show said: “We were very sorry to hear of Roy Battersby’s recent passing – he was a renowned and trailblazing director. Roy Battersby was awarded the Alan Clarke Award in 1996, a BAFTA Special Television Award.
“We confirm he will be honored in our forthcoming BAFTA Television Awards in May, and on the In Memoriam Section on our website.”
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