The BBC has issued a second apology after a racial slur was broadcast during the Bafta film awards on Sunday. The offensive language, which was not edited out of the live broadcast, remained on BBC iPlayer for several hours before being removed.
The slur was uttered by John Davidson, a Tourette syndrome campaigner, as actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan presented an award. Producers overseeing the ceremony from a truck said they did not hear the comment. The BBC later apologised, stating that the involuntary verbal tic should have been removed before broadcast.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the BBC, saying it had made a 'horrible mistake' by failing to bleep the word, especially as other inappropriate language, such as shouts of 'Free Palestine', had been edited out. Bafta also issued an apology, acknowledging the 'very offensive language' and promising to learn from the incident.
Actors Jamie Foxx and Wendell Pierce condemned the broadcast, with Pierce calling for a full apology to Lindo and Jordan. Sinners' production designer Hannah Beachler reported being subjected to a racial slur herself and criticised Bafta's response. Lindo reportedly said he and Jordan 'did what we had to do' by remaining calm, but wished Bafta had spoken to them afterwards.
Davidson, who has Tourette syndrome, attended the awards for the film I Swear, which won several awards. He left the event early. Tourettes Action released a statement addressing negative comments about the incident.
