Noel Clarke’s ‘Bulletproof’ Co-Star Ashley Walters & Michaela Coel Comment On Misconduct Allegations; More Reactions

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I May Destroy You creator and star Michaela Coel has published a statement in response to last night’s bombshell Guardian investigation in which more than 20 women made allegations of misconduct against UK actor and producer Noel Clarke.

Coel had retweeted the story last night without comment. Today, she took to Twitter to add that she wanted to offer “great support for the 20 brave women who have come forward”. The full statement is embedded below.

Ashley Walters, Clarke’s co-star in Sky series Bulletproof, also took to Twitter to react today, writing that he was “deeply saddened” and that while Clarke had been his friend for years, he “cannot stand by and ignore the allegations”.

Reaction across the UK biz today has been decisive. Deadline revealed that Sky has halted working with the Bulletproof creator on season four of that show and “all future productions”, as have the producer of the series Vertigo Films.

Last night, BAFTA confirmed it has suspended Clarke’s membership and withdrawn his recent Outstanding Contribution To British Cinema Award. The awards body has, however, received flak for the suggestion in the Guardian article that it knew of some form of the allegations in advance of giving Clarke the prize. Today, it published a new statement addressing those claims.

Also reacting to the news today was Bulletproof actor David Elliot, who posted the hashtags #STOPPABLE (in reference to Clarke’s production company Unstoppable) and #TIMESUP on his Instagram story:

The actress Kaya Scodelario posted a series of tweets addressing the part of the Guardian exposé that claimed Clarke had secretly filmed an actress nude during an audition, detailing a similar experience with another “big director”:

Time’s Up UK tweeted the below statement:

Actors’ union equity published this statement from its General Secretary Paul W Fleming on its website: “The allegations against Noel Clarke are phenomenally serious, and warrant investigation and treatment not just by BAFTA but by the producers on whose watch the alleged offences occurred. An environment where women, or any who suffer bullying, abuse or harassment are unable to come forward is one where those with power in our industry have singularly failed in their moral, and often legal duties of care.

“Equity’s strong position on meaningful and accessible Dignity at Work policies puts the obligations squarely where they sit: on producers and engagers to create and defend workplaces which are safe spaces. Those who perpetrate structural inequality in society will continue to exist, but an industry in which they can survive and thrive can be changed if those with power have the will to do so.”