Fallout from the Bafta film awards continued on Monday after Tourette syndrome activist John Davidson used the N-word during the ceremony. Actors Jamie Foxx and Wendell Pierce were among those criticising the incident, which occurred while Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan were presenting the first award.
Foxx described the outburst as 'unacceptable' in a social media post, while Pierce said it was 'infuriating' that the first reaction was not a full apology to Lindo and Jordan. Journalist Jemele Hill added that Black people should not be expected to accept disrespect to accommodate others.
Bafta host Alan Cumming made two announcements explaining that Davidson's tics were involuntary due to his disability. However, production designer Hannah Beachler, who worked on the film Sinners, criticised the 'throwaway apology' that said 'if you were offended'. She said she had also been subjected to a racial slur.
The BBC, which broadcast the ceremony, apologised for the strong language, noting it was unintentional. Davidson said he was 'deeply mortified' if anyone thought his tics were intentional, and left the ceremony early to avoid causing further distress.
