Bafta host Stephen Fry defends Jenny Beaven 'bag lady' joke: "She's a dear friend and she got it"

Stephen Fry's not exactly the shy and retiring type but there were a few gasps inside the Royal Opera House this evening when the Bafta host waved Best Costume Design winner Jenny Beaven off stage by quipping: "Only one of the great cinematic costume designers would come to an awards ceremony dressed as a bag lady."

Does Stephen Fry know Jenny Beavan? Is she up for a joke? Said she dressed as a bag lady!! #EEBAFTAs #BAFTA pic.twitter.com/Y4zIlPVzW6

— Andrew Yee (@andrewyee) February 14, 2016

His comments attracted a flurry of criticism from tweeters unaware that Fry and Beaven are actually close friends and that he was – in his words – "joshing" with her...

Some threw out accusations of ruining Jenny's moment...

Saying Jenny Bevan is dressed as a bag lady when she's just won an award is pretty nasty by Stephen Fry. Way to ruin her moment #EEBAFTAs

— Katherine Nesbitt (@_kittybitty) February 14, 2016

Others called Stephen Fry 'rude':

The backlash prompted the Baftas host to take to Twitter to explain that "Jenny Beaven is a friend and joshing is legitimate", before adding:

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

Fry and Beaven have previously worked together on Gosford Park and Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows. They even posed for a snap at the after party where Fry poked fun at the reaction to his joke...

Jenny Baglady Beavan and Stephen Outrageous Misogynist Swine Fry at the #EEBAFTAs after party pic.twitter.com/KunzoqYBfG

— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) February 14, 2016

The costume designer was one of four Bafta winners for Mad Max: Fury Road which failed to get a single acting nomination but dominated the ceremony's technical categories.