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Rebel Wilson Says She'll Practice Her "Transgender Face" For Awards Season

The Internet debates whether her BAFTA speech was offensive or supportive.

Rebel Wilson is at the center of controversy today after joking about diversity in Hollywood and transface, the phenomenon of cisgender actors playing transgender roles, in a speech at last night's British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards in London.

Referring to Idris Elba as the "chocolate on Valentine's Day" she really wants, the Pitch Perfect and Bridsemaids actress first name-checked the continuing #OscarsSoWhite drama by calling the awards show "racist."

“It is so great to be here at this serious event. I have never been invited to the Oscars, because as we all know they are racist,” Wilson said before presenting an award for Best Supporting Actor. “But the BAFTA have diverse members, and that’s what we all want in life isn’t it? Diverse members."

Wilson added that she hoped to return to the BAFTA stage in the future to accept an award, and joked she'd get ready for it by practicing her "transgender face."

Wilson was hailed as having the "best intro" of the evening by some, but trans advocates, including Tyler Ford, didn't agree.

"how coincidental @RebelWilson, i've been practicing my cisgender face so i don't get harassed & assaulted in public!" they tweeted.

Others joined in their dissent:

While others claimed the comments were satirical and actually supportive of trans actors:

Regardless, Wilson's comments only added to another unsettling moment earlier in the evening, when Best Actor nominee Eddie Redmayne credited his film, The Danish Girl, for bringing trans issues "into the mainstream."

It was another comment that didn't go unnoticed —

As of Monday, Wilson hadn't commented on criticism of her speech, but tweeted she'd "had amazing time" and thanked "all those diverse members!"

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