LONDON -- Bafta host Stephen Fry provoked outrage during the ceremony Sunday night after he described the winner of the Best Costume Design award, Jenny Beavan, as a "bag lady."
Beavan was barely off the stage having accepted the accolade -- dressed in jeans, a grey scarf and a leather jacket -- when he made the quip.
It was her work on Mad Max: Fury Road that earned her a place among the winners of the night.
Fry's comments didn't go down too well.
Nice of Stephen Fry to horribly insult a BAFTA-winning costume designer by saying she looked like a "bag lady". Sure that's made her day.— Kaya Burgess (@kayaburgess) February 14, 2016
Uncool of Stephen Fry to say bafta winning costume designer dressed like a 'bag lady'. I was thinking it was cool she wore what she wanted.— Jo Elvin (@jo_elvin) February 14, 2016
Cannot believe Stephen Fry said that bag lady thing. How very rude.... #BAFTAs— Helen (@Helencakefiend) February 14, 2016
Bag lady "joke" not good Mr Fry. #bafta2016— Helena Morrissey (@MorrisseyHelena) February 14, 2016
Bloody hell, "bag lady" Stephen Fry!? Claws out much. Meow! #baftas— Charles Meyrick (@Charles_Meyrick) February 14, 2016
Not sure comparing #bafta2016 costume design winner to a bag lady was very gallant @stephenfry— Sarah Richardson (@Sarahpolitics) February 14, 2016
Some, meanwhile, found it funny.
Oh @stephenfry that was possibly the best line I've ever heard at an awards ceremony #baglady #BAFTA— just me (@thegrumpalot) February 14, 2016
"Only the winner of a costume design award would come dressed as a bag lady"... HOWLING! #EEBAFTAs— Lee (@Hotdesigner) February 14, 2016
Fry jumped onto Twitter to defend the quip later in the evening.
"So just a word to the tragic figures who think calling Jenny Bevan (sic) a bag lady was an insult. She's a dear friend and she got it," he wrote. "Derrr."
So just a word to the tragic figures who think calling Jenny Bevan a bag lady was an insult. She's a dear friend and she got it. Derrr— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) February 14, 2016
Will all you sanctimonious fuckers fuck the fuck off Jenny Beavan is a friend and joshing is legitimate. Christ I want to leave the planet— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) February 14, 2016
Jenny Baglady Beavan and Stephen Outrageous Misogynist Swine Fry at the #EEBAFTAs after party pic.twitter.com/KunzoqYBfG— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) February 14, 2016
Update Feb. 15 11:42 a.m. - Stephen Fry has since deleted his Twitter account and his agents have ignored calls on the matter.