Someone Next to Nolan in 'Oppenheimer'... "A YouTuber Did YouTubing Again"

Director and actor sit side by side
The identity is a YouTuber... with a record too

At the British Academy Film Awards ceremony, director Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" won the Best Picture award. While the director and actors took the stage to receive the award, a YouTuber secretly slipped in pretending to be an insider, causing controversy.

At the 77th British Academy Film Awards ceremony, a mysterious YouTuber sneaked next to the Oppenheimer team, who won the Best Picture award. They captured and posted their image on Instagram. [Image source=Instagram capture]

On the 19th (local time), BBC and Sky News reported that during the 77th British Academy Film Awards ceremony held the previous night at London's Southbank, a mysterious man stood behind the Oppenheimer team as they took the stage to receive the Best Picture award after winning seven awards. Dressed in a black suit and wearing a hat, the man ran up the stairs opposite the Oppenheimer team and joined them a few seconds later, taking a spot next to the male lead, Cillian Murphy. Although he did not take any further action, he continued to stand with the Oppenheimer team as if he were an insider.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), which hosts the British Academy Film Awards, stated firmly, "Last night, a problematic individual from social media was escorted off the stage by security after joining the final award recipients. We take this matter very seriously and do not wish to give him further attention by mentioning him more."

The man posted a broadcast screenshot on an Instagram account named "Leezwani," writing, "Here I am receiving the British Academy Award with Murphy." His YouTube channel also features videos such as "Fake Employee" and footage of secretly attending famous award ceremonies. Leezwani told his YouTube channel community that he plans to release a full version of the footage secretly filmed at the Academy Awards soon.

According to foreign media, Leezwani has about 5,000 followers on TikTok and 8,000 subscribers on YouTube. It is also reported that he has previously infiltrated major award ceremonies. Foreign media noted that in 2022, he attended the Brit Awards wearing a chef's hat and apron, and at the same year's French football Ballon d'Or ceremony, he entered through a side door dressed as a repair worker.

At this year's British Academy Film Awards ceremony, "Oppenheimer" achieved seven wins, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Cillian Murphy), and Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.).