During the live broadcast of the BRIT Awards from London's O2 Arena on 1 March, viewers experienced an unusual interruption as the actor Danny Dyer was subjected to censorship due to a series of explicit remarks made during the ceremony. Dyer, known for his role in "EastEnders", was presenting the International Song of the Year award, which was awarded to Chappell Roan for her track, "Good Luck Babe!". Roan was not in attendance to accept the award, prompting Dyer to comment, "She couldn't be f***ed to be here." As a result, ITV muted the audio for several seconds, leading to confusion among viewers watching at home.
The first incident occurred when Dyer mispronounced Roan's name, which elicited laughter from the audience. This levity, however, quickly turned to shock as his comments prompted the first of two censorship moments of the night. Moments later, while discussing his new film, "Marching Powder", Dyer again faced a similar fate when his comments led to further interruptions from ITV's audio team. Dyer's assertion that he "wouldn't be allowed" to speak freely because it was past the 9pm watershed was met with some banter from BRITs host Jack Whitehall, who encouraged Dyer to air his thoughts. Unfortunately, his reference to the film, comparing it to "Bridget Jones", was met with another audio cut.
During this segment, Dyer further remarked on the Premier League, taking a swipe at Arsenal's chances, which could stir the sentiments of football fans present at the award show. Adding an unexpected layer to the chaos of the evening was the sight of a woman dressed as a horse at Dyer's table, which caught the attention of both viewers and Whitehall, who humorously confessed he had no idea who she was.
The BRIT Awards have a history of on-stage controversies. In 2021, singer Lewis Capaldi's acceptance speech was similarly muted due to foul language, while in 2018, Stormzy directed pointed lyrics towards then-Prime Minister Theresa May concerning the Grenfell Tower fire. More recently, Sabrina Carpenter's performance during the event garnered complaints, showcasing the ongoing tension between entertainment and censorship during live broadcasts.
The audience reactions to Dyer's appearance were mixed, with many viewers taking to social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to express their desire to know exactly what was said during the muted portions of the broadcast. Comments ranged from amusing to frustrated, highlighting Dyer's reputation as a figure who tends to generate controversy.
The BRIT Awards can be viewed on ITV, and the evening exemplified the unpredictable nature of live television, where both the excitement of the event and the potential for unexpected moments often lead to memorable television experiences.
Source: Noah Wire Services