Actress Wunmi Mosaku has expressed profound distress, stating she was kept "awake at night" after the BBC broadcast a racial slur during the Bafta film awards ceremony. Mosaku, who won the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in the film Sinners at the event last month, described the incident as having "really tainted" her celebration.
Incident at the Royal Festival Hall
During the 79th British Academy Film Awards at London's Royal Festival Hall, Tourette's campaigner John Davidson was heard shouting a racial slur as Sinners co-stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the award for special visual effects. Mosaku, speaking on the red carpet of the Actor Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, told Entertainment Tonight that the moment was "painful" and overshadowed her achievement.
Mosaku's Emotional Response
Mosaku emphasized she holds "no hard feelings" towards Davidson, acknowledging his condition, but criticized Bafta for needing to learn lessons. She found it "exploitative and performative" to have someone present without full protection, noting children were likely in the audience. However, she directed stronger criticism at the BBC, questioning their decision to air the slur despite a two-hour delay.
"That's the bit that really kind of kept me awake at night and brought tears to my eyes," Mosaku said. "I was like, you really chose to keep that in? I can't understand it, and I'm not sure if I can forgive it."
BBC and Regulatory Fallout
The BBC has issued an apology, and its Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) has committed to a "fast-tracked investigation" into how the slur was broadcast. Additionally, the Culture, Media and Sport Committee (CMS) has written to outgoing BBC director-general Tim Davie, seeking an explanation for the failure to censor the content.
CMS Committee chairwoman Dame Caroline Dinenage referenced previous incidents like Glastonbury Festival coverage, stating this "latest incident raises questions about the extent to which lessons have been learned and about the controls and systems you have in place to prevent such incidents."
Davidson's Perspective and Aftermath
John Davidson, a Scottish campaigner representing the film I Swear about his life with Tourette's syndrome, expressed feeling "mortified" by the event. In an interview with Variety, he suggested the BBC should have "worked harder" to prevent the broadcast of his racial slur.
Meanwhile, Delroy Lindo, at the NAACP Image Awards in California, thanked supporters for their love following the incident. He told the audience, "It's a classic case of something that could've been very negative becoming very positive," highlighting the solidarity shown by the community.
The incident has sparked broader discussions about media responsibility and protection at public events, with Mosaku's heartfelt comments underscoring the personal impact of such oversights.
