David Beckham’s use of both “football” and “soccer” during his award presentation at the BAFTAs sparked controversy, particularly among British viewers.
While introducing the award for Outstanding Debut, Beckham said, “They say that practice makes perfect. Well, that might be true in football, or soccer, but that’s not true for the filmmakers nominated for Outstanding Debut. They got it right the first time.”
This seemingly harmless attempt at inclusivity ruffled feathers on social media, with several viewers criticizing his use of “soccer,” a term primarily used in the US to differentiate from American football. Comments accused him of “pandering to Americans” and disrespecting the British tradition of calling the sport “football.”
Despite the controversy, the BAFTAs concluded successfully, with “Oppenheimer” dominating the night with seven wins. Emma Stone and Da’Vine Joy Randolph also bagged Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress awards respectively.