BBC Apologises After Racial Slur Not Edited Out Of BAFTA Broadcast
The BBC has apologised after a racial slur shouted during the BAFTA Film Awards was not edited out of its TV broadcast on Sunday night.
The remark was heard as actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage presenting an award at London’s Royal Festival Hall. The word was shouted by Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson, whose life story inspired the film I Swear.
The ceremony was recorded earlier in the evening and shown on BBC One with a delay, but the slur was not edited out. It remained available on BBC iPlayer until Monday lunchtime, when the programme was removed. A message later read: “This episode will be available soon”.
Davidson, who developed Tourette’s as a child and was awarded an MBE in 2019 for his advocacy work, had previously said large public events could trigger his tics. He later left the ceremony early.
In a statement, the BBC said: “Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the Bafta Film Awards. This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and was not intentional. We apologise for any offence caused by the language heard.”
Earlier, the broadcaster also said: “We apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer.”
During the ceremony, host Alan Cumming addressed the audience, saying: “You may have heard some strong and offensive language tonight. If you have seen the film I Swear, you will know that film is about the experience of a person with Tourette syndrome. Tourette syndrome is a disability and the tics you have heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette syndrome has no control over their language. We apologise if you were offended.”
The moment sparked criticism from politicians and figures in the entertainment industry. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch called it a “horrible mistake”, saying the language should have been bleeped and that the two actors on stage deserved the strongest apology.
Tourette’s Action said it understood the harm caused by the word but urged the public to recognise that tics are involuntary and not a reflection of a person’s beliefs or character. The charity described the backlash against Davidson as “deeply saddening”.
The incident overshadowed a successful night for I Swear. Robert Aramayo won best actor and the EE Rising Star award for portraying Davidson in the film, which follows his experience growing up with Tourette’s in Scotland.
