Racial Slur Incident at Bafta Ceremony
A racial slur was removed from the Baftas ceremony broadcast, but a second slur was mistakenly aired, according to the BBC's chief content officer.
Tourette's campaigner John Davidson shouted the N-word while US actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage during the event on Sunday.
The slur was audible in the broadcast, although many viewers may have found it difficult to discern the word.
BBC Response and Apology
BBC content chief Kate Phillips sent an email to staff on Tuesday, reiterating the BBC's apology for failing to edit out the slur from the broadcast and stating:
"We understand how distressing this was."
The incident was not removed from the BBC One broadcast, which aired on a two-hour delay.
Phillips confirmed that another instance of offensive language had been removed, telling staff:
"The edit team removed another racial slur from the broadcast."
However, the slur shouted during Lindo and Jordan's time on stage was broadcast in error, and the BBC would never have knowingly allowed it to be aired, she added.
Production Oversight and Tourette's Context
understands the producers managing the ceremony for the BBC were operating from a TV truck and did not hear the slur when Lindo and Jordan were on stage.
Phillips also noted:
"Award attendees were pre-warned about the possibility of involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome at the start of the show, and [host] Alan Cumming addressed it during the broadcast.
Of course, this doesn't lessen the impact and upset."
She took full responsibility for the incident and stated:
"When I was made aware it was audible on , I asked for it to be taken down."
Ceremony Timing and Broadcast Details
The ceremony began at 17:00 GMT, two hours before the TV broadcast started.
Following the broadcast conclusion at 21:00 GMT, the ceremony was made available on but was removed around 11:30 on Monday morning.
Public and Political Reactions
Labour MP Dawn Butler called for an urgent explanation, emphasizing that the N-word should never have been aired and describing the broadcast as painful and unforgivable.
Bafta's Statement and Apologies
On Monday, Bafta issued a statement acknowledging the harm caused and apologizing to all affected:
"Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage at the time, and we apologise unreservedly to them, and to all those impacted. We would like to thank Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism."
Bafta also expressed gratitude to Davidson for his dignity and consideration during what was intended to be a night of celebration for him.
Comments from Delroy Lindo and Warner Bros
After the ceremony, Lindo told Vanity Fair that he and Jordan, who were presenting an award, "did what we had to do" by continuing, but he wished someone from Bafta had spoken to them afterward.
On Tuesday, Deadline reported that a Warner Bros representative, the studio behind Sinners starring Lindo and Jordan, complained to Bafta minutes after the slur was shouted and reportedly received assurances that concerns would be passed to the BBC. Bafta has been asked for comment.
John Davidson's Statement
Davidson issued a statement on Monday expressing remorse:
"I am deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning.
I have spent my life trying to support and empower the Tourette's community and to teach empathy, kindness and understanding from others and I will continue to do so."
He added that he left the auditorium early in the ceremony because he was aware of the distress his tics were causing.
