Australian star Rebel Wilson might not be invited back to the BAFTAs next year after a controversy-laden speech during Monday’s ceremony.

The Bridesmaids actress was asked to present the award for best supporting actor at London’s Royal Opera House, taking the opportunity to push the envelope with a number of controversial race and gender jokes (scroll down to watch the speech).

Wilson seemed to have the crowd on her side when she opened by joking she was never invited to the Oscars because the organisers were “racist” – a clear reference to the #OscarsSoWhite controversy surrounding this year’s all-white acting nominations.

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“It’s so great to be here at this really serious event,” said Wilson, who appeared on stage like an awkward schoolgirl reading out a prepared speech.

“I have never been invited to the Oscars because as you know they are racists.

“But the BAFTAs has diverse members, and that’s what we all want to see in life isn’t it? Diverse members.”

The incident has dredged up another poorly-received joke from last year. Photo: AAP

But Wilson’s next joke has been less-well received. Addressing black best supporting actor nominee Idris Elba, Wilson played the ‘flustered girl with a crush’ card she is now well-known for.

“Sorry, Idris Elba … You’re making me a bit nervous,” she said. “But I’m just psychologically programmed to want chocolate on Valentine’s Day.”

The crowd – including Elba – appeared to laugh, before he raised a finger to his lips in a “sssh” motion.

That comment might have been enough to grab headlines, but Wilson was obviously taking the same tack as Ricky Gervais at the Oscars: wanting to cram as much controversy into a two-minute speech as possible.

Noting that she’d love to return to the BAFTAs to receive an award one day, Wilson said: “I’ve been practising my transgender face.”

The joke appeared to poke fun at both Eddie Redmayne’s nominated portrayal of a transgender person in the acclaimed film The Danish Girl, and the supposed easy awards that come with playing a trans person on screen.

Twitter reacts

Predictably, the Twittersphere caught fire after Wilson’s brief appearance, with many criticising the insensitive jokes.

Wilson’s controversial past

Many users pointed out this wasn’t the first time the comedian has gone too far with a race joke.

In 2015, Wilson offended many with a skit at the MTV Video Music Awards that made light of the Black Lives Matter movement in the USA.

“A lot of people have problems with the police,” Wilson said, referring to the current movement which criticises the US police force’s unfair treatment of black Americans.

“But I really hate police strippers,” she continued, before undressing to reveal a shirt that said “F**k Tha Stripper Police”.

Wilson went on to express her frustration at police strippers who don’t dance for the amount of time they’re paid for.

Predictably, the joke did not go down well with activists, who pointed out that the unnecessary deaths of young black men and women at the hands of the police should not be used as awards show fodder.

Watch Rebel Wilson’s BAFTAs speech below: