Asif Kapadia’s Dismissal As Grierson Patron Sparks Boycott Of Prestigious Documentary Awards

deadline.com:

EXCLUSIVE: Senior Muslim figures in the British television industry are planning to boycott the Grierson Awards on Wednesday over the treatment of Asif Kapadia, the Oscar-winning director.

As revealed by Deadline last month, Senna director Kapadia was removed as a patron of the Grierson Trust after just two days following a backlash over his social media posts about the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Kapadia later apologized for his social media activity, acknowledging that some of the material he shared was “ill-judged” and likely to be considered “antisemitic.” Posts he shared included a cartoon of Benjamin Netanyahu dining at a blood-stained table in the rubble of Gaza, with the caption “kosher.” In the weeks following the incident, however, a feeling has grown within UK television’s Muslim and South Asian community that Grierson acted rashly in defenestrating Kapadia.

Senior industry figures have written to Grierson managing director Sylvia Bednarz and chairman Lorraine Heggessey to express their dismay — and to inform the prestigious documentary charity that they will not be attending the awards at London’s Roundhouse this week.