Robert Aramayo has made his first red carpet appearance since his BAFTA victory was eclipsed by the awards ceremony's racial slur controversy. The 33-year-old actor attended the Madrid premiere for his film I Swear, following his win of the Leading Actor award for his acclaimed portrayal of Tourette's campaigner John Davidson.
Premiere Event in Madrid
Aramayo was accompanied by the film's director, Kirk Jones, for the release of the Spanish version of the movie, titled Incontrolable. The actor's BAFTA triumph last month came as a surprise, as he beat out the favourite, Timothee Chalamet, for the prestigious Leading Actor gong.
Controversy at the BAFTA Ceremony
While Aramayo's win sparked euphoria among his family members in attendance, the evening was dominated by controversy after John Davidson, the subject of the film I Swear, left the awards after shouting racial slurs. The incident occurred while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award.
Davidson, whose life is documented in the film, made the involuntary comment as a result of a tic caused by Tourette syndrome, a neurological condition he has lived with since the age of 12. Despite the broadcast not being live, the racial slur was left in the televised edit of the show, which aired on the BBC two hours later.
Apologies and Investigations
Alan, a representative, issued an apology to viewers after Davidson was heard shouting the N-word. The BBC stated that the moment 'was aired in error' and announced that its Executive Complaints Unit would conduct a 'fast-tracked investigation' into the incident.
Following the BAFTAs, Davidson expressed that he was 'deeply mortified' by his outburst, which he attributed to his neurological condition. He faced some backlash from Hollywood figures, including Jamie Foxx and Wendell Pierce, but much of the criticism was directed at the BBC for failing to edit out the slur before broadcast.
Davidson's Response and Further Hardships
On social media, Davidson wrote, 'I’ve been waiting all week until the dust settles after the weekend at the BAFTAs in London.' He thanked supporters for their love and solidarity, adding, 'Whilst I will never apologies (sic) for having Tourette syndrome, i will apologise for any pain, upset and misunderstanding that it may create.'
Davidson also faced further distress when he returned home to Scotland after the BAFTAs to discover that his beloved bicycle had been stolen. Director Kirk Jones noted, 'He finally gets home to Scotland the next day, and I suspect because thieves knew that he was in London – because they could see [he would be at] the awards – they went to his house, broke into his shed, and they stole his bike.'
Questions Over Broadcasting Decisions
Davidson revealed that BAFTA bosses had assured him 'that any swearing would be edited out of the broadcast' and questioned why he was seated with a microphone just in front of him. He told Variety that the movie's distributors, StudioCanal, had been 'working closely with Bafta, and Bafta had made us all aware that any swearing would be edited out of the broadcast.'
He added, 'I have made four documentaries with the BBC in the past, and feel that they should have been aware of what to expect from Tourette's and worked harder to prevent anything that I said - which, after all, was some 40 rows back from the stage - from being included in the broadcast.'
Institutional Responses
The BBC apologised for not editing out the N-word and confirmed it would launch a 'fast-tracked investigation' into what it termed a 'serious mistake.' BAFTA issued an 'unreserved apology' for the 'very offensive language that carries incomparable trauma and pain for so many.'
It is understood that representatives from Warner Bros, the film studio behind Sinners, spoke directly with BAFTA staff during the ceremony, requesting the slur be removed from the broadcast. They were reassured the request would be passed on, but sources indicate that producers editing the show 'simply did not hear the slur' shouted when Jordan and Lindo were on stage.
In contrast, the BBC edited out 'Free Palestine' from an acceptance speech by filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr after My Father's Shadow won the BAFTA for outstanding British debut, highlighting inconsistencies in the broadcasting approach.
