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Ariana DeBose said she 'cut a rug' with Emma Thompson and received props from Baz Luhrmann after her viral BAFTAs performance: 'That's a win you guys!'

Feb 26, 2023, 02:58 IST
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Ariana DeBose performs on stage during the BAFTA Awards on February 19, 2023, in London, England.Stuart Wilson/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA
  • Ariana DeBose is opening up about her viral BAFTAs performance earlier this month.
  • The actress was criticized online for the rap she performed during the opening number.
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Ariana DeBose doesn't seem too bothered by the criticism of her viral BAFTAs performance after all.

The actress and singer recently spoke with BBC Radio 2's Zoe Ball about the awards show, which took place on February 19. During the opening number, DeBose recited a rap about women in Hollywood that puzzled viewers, igniting backlash online.

Although she appeared to deactivate her Twitter after the performance went viral, DeBose is now sharing how her famous peers reacted to it. In a clip from the interview shared by BBC on TikTok, she made it clear that the British Academy Film Awards approached her to open the show.

"It's not like I was like, 'Hey, BAFTA, let me in.' They actually called me, believe it or not," she said. "That was the assignment: 'Come celebrate women.' I was like, 'Absolutely,' and we did that, it was fun. Not gonna lie, I had a blast."

After the event was over, DeBose said she spent the evening "cutting a rug" with Emma Thompson, telling the audience not to "sleep on Dame Emma" and her dance moves. She also noted that "Elvis" director Baz Luhrmann came up to her to congratulate her on the performance.

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"Baz Luhrmann came and found me and he was like, 'No, I think you're great, that was fun. I had fun." And I was like, 'Work!' That's a win you guys," she said.

On Saturday, DeBose also shared a round-up of references to her BAFTAs moment on Instagram, including videos of Lizzo and Adele quoting her rap at their recent concerts.

"The internet is wild y'all! Appreciate all the love," she wrote in the caption.

Also among the memes she shared was a photo of flowers Wanda Sykes sent her after the performance. The card accompanying the flowers read, "Ariana, I loved it! YOU did the thing. XO, Wanda Sykes."

Ariana DeBose on stage during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2023.Kate Green/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA

The stars weren't the only ones to come to DeBose's defense. Nick Bullen, a BAFTA Awards producer and CEO of the British production company Gold Spun, told Variety the morning after the broadcast he thought the public's response was "incredibly unfair, to be frank."

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