The Incident
During the ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall in London, John Davidson—a campaigner for Tourette syndrome whose life inspired the BAFTA-nominated film I Swear—was in the audience. As actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were onstage presenting the award for Best Special Visual Effects, Davidson, who has severe Tourette syndrome, shouted a racial slur (the N-word). This outburst was picked up by microphones and remained audible in the broadcast.
Broadcast and Editing Controversy
The ceremony was filmed on a two-hour delay, but the slur was not edited out before being aired on BBC One. It also remained available on the BBC iPlayer streaming service until Monday morning before being removed for editing.
BBC Response: The BBC issued multiple apologies, stating that its producers, who were working from an editing truck, did not hear the slur during the broadcast. They have since committed to removing the offensive language from all versions of the program.
BAFTA Response: BAFTA issued a formal apology, acknowledging the harm caused and expressing "unreserved" apologies to Jordan and Lindo for the difficult situation they were placed in. They praised the actors for their "incredible dignity and professionalism."
Public and Industry Reaction
John Davidson: In a statement, Davidson expressed that he was "deeply mortified" and emphasized that his involuntary tics were not intentional and did not reflect his personal beliefs. He also chose to leave the auditorium early once he realized the distress his tics were causing.
Backlash: The incident sparked sharp criticism from various figures, including actors Jamie Foxx and Wendell Pierce, who labeled the incident "unacceptable" and criticized the initial response. There has also been broader debate regarding broadcast standards and the decision to air the ceremony with a delay without more rigorous oversight.
Further Criticisms: Some industry insiders and critics have questioned the handling of the situation, particularly after it was noted that other parts of the ceremony—such as a "Free Palestine" remark by Akinola Davies Jr. and a joke about the U.S. President—were edited out, raising questions about editorial priorities.
BAFTA has since announced that a "comprehensive review" is underway to address how such incidents are handled in the future.