The BBC has removed the Bafta Film Awards from iPlayer after a racial slur was broadcast during the ceremony, spoken involuntarily by an audience member with Tourette syndrome. The incident occurred on Sunday at London's Royal Festival Hall as actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan presented the award for special visual effects.
The ceremony was available to stream on iPlayer until 11am on Monday, but was pulled shortly after the corporation apologised for the “strong and offensive language”. A BBC spokesperson said the language arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome and was not intentional. They confirmed the programme would be re-added after the slur is edited out.
Presenter Alan Cumming addressed the issue during the ceremony, explaining that the tics were involuntary and apologising for any offence. The audience member was John Davidson, a Tourette's campaigner subject of the film I Swear, which won a Bafta. Davidson could be heard shouting words including the N-word . He later left the venue but returned to celebrate the Best Actor win for Robert Aramayo.
Tourettes Action vice-chair Ed Palmer told Times Radio that the BBC should have considered bleeping the slur, describing it as “one of the most acute examples” of where a disability can cause offence. The charity urged the public to understand that such tics are involuntary and not a reflection of a person's beliefs, calling the backlash “deeply saddening”.
