Ariana DeBose Breaks Her Silence On Now-Iconic BAFTA Rap As Angela Bassett 'Finally' Did The Thing

Ariana DeBose has been in the headlines in the past week following her now-iconic BAFTA performance.

At the time of her performance, most of the comments on social media had been ruthless, calling the opening performance to be "awkward" and "cringy."

However, as the days go by and people online become more familiar with it and have consumed it through memes, jokes, and edited videos, it seems like the tide has shifted.

In a new interview with BBC Radio 2's "The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show," DeBose made her first public appearance since her performance.

DeBose has since deactivated her Twitter account following the backlash she initially received for her performance.

"You know what, you might be one of the few - "I'll take it because you're my people," DeBose told Zoe after receiving praises from the host about her BAFTA rap performance.

Per the host, it was a celebration for women as Debose sang and danced for women being magnificent.

DeBose vocally agrees with what Zoe has pointed out.

"Honestly, it's not like I'm like, 'Hey BAFTA, let me in!' They actually called me, believe it or not," she furthered. "But that was the assignment. Like, 'Come celebrate women,' and I was like, 'Absolutely!' We did that and it was fun. Not gonna lie, I had a blast."

Prior to seeing the backlash on social media, DeBose revealed that she had received compliments and praises from the audiences in the venue.

"Elvis" director Baz Luhrmann gave her praises after her performance during the 2023 BAFTAs last week. In another interview, Jamie Lee Curtis, who DeBose described to be "all of us," also agreed that she was nothing but great at the show.

"I'm unclear what the f--k people are on about. For me, it was joyous, celebratory, sisterly, hot, spicy and she's just so incredibly talented," she told Deadline.

Curtis was among the many women who DeBose has namechecked on the show for her rap performance.

"Angela Bassett did the thing / Viola Davis, my Woman King / Blanchett, Cate, you're a genius / And Jamie Lee [Curtis], you are all of us," DeBose rapped.

Meanwhile, Bassett also thanked "gay twitter" for embracing her performance, which ultimately shifted the opinion on social media. People on Twitter have since described Ariana DeBose's performance to be "camp."

Some have even pointed out that Angela Bassett, whose lyrics stood out among everything, should at least reference the now-iconic line in her acceptance speech should she win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

But it seemed like Angela Bassett did the thing already as during the 2023 NAACP Image Awards when she won Entertainer of the Year, she had already sent the room wilding when she said the catchphrase in her speech.

Tags

Angela Bassett, BAFTA Film Awards