Alan Cumming has sharply criticised Bafta organisers after Tourette syndrome activist John Davidson shouted a racial slur during the film awards ceremony in February. Cumming, who hosted the event, described the leadership as 'bad people who weren't doing their jobs properly' in an interview with the Sunday Times.
Davidson, whose autobiographical film I Swear was nominated for several awards, shouted the N-word twice during the ceremony, along with a slur directed at Cumming. The BBC’s broadcast, which included the outburst, remained on iPlayer overnight before being removed. Both Bafta and the BBC issued apologies, and an independent review commissioned by Bafta concluded in April that there was 'no evidence of malicious intent'.
Cumming said he had not been warned that Davidson might use offensive language. 'They just said, 'There'll be noise,'' he told the Sunday Times. He added that Davidson had reportedly used the N-word at a party the day before the ceremony. Cumming also noted that he could not hear clearly through his earpiece and speculated that other attendees, such as Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan, may not have heard the slur either.
The actor apologised during the ceremony, saying: 'Tourette syndrome is a disability… we apologise if you are offended tonight.' However, he stated that he has no plans to host the Baftas again, calling the role a 'tough gig' and describing the event as a 'shitshow'. Bafta declined to comment when approached by the Guardian.
