The BBC has issued a fresh apology after a racial slur was broadcast during the Bafta film awards, with producers overseeing the ceremony saying they did not hear the word as they were working from a truck. The slur, the N-word, was shouted by John Davidson, a Tourette syndrome campaigner, as actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan were on stage presenting an award.
The broadcast containing the offensive language remained on BBC iPlayer overnight before being taken down. The BBC later apologised and said the show would be re-edited. In a statement, the corporation said: 'Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the Bafta film awards. This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional. We apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer.'
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the BBC's handling, saying it was a 'horrible mistake' that the word was not bleeped, especially as other incidents of inappropriate language, such as shouts of 'Free Palestine', were cut out. Bafta also issued an apology, acknowledging 'very offensive language that carries incomparable trauma and pain for so many' and taking 'full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation'.
Actors Jamie Foxx and Wendell Pierce expressed dismay, with Foxx calling the incident 'unacceptable' and Pierce saying the first reaction should have been a full apology to Lindo and Jordan. Lindo reportedly told a Vanity Fair reporter that he and Jordan 'did what we had to do' by remaining calm, but wished someone from Bafta had spoken to them afterwards. The Guardian has approached representatives for both actors for comment.
During the ceremony, host Alan Cumming explained that Davidson's tics were involuntary and apologised for any offence. Davidson, who was born in Galashiels, Scotland, and was appointed an MBE in 2019, left the event midway through the evening. Tourettes Action released a statement addressing negative comments following the incident.
