A racial slur shouted during the Bafta Film Awards ceremony on Sunday has ignited widespread criticism and immediate action from Hollywood studio Warner Bros, according to reports. The incident occurred as Black Hollywood stars Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the award for special visual effects at London's Royal Festival Hall.
Immediate Studio Intervention and Broadcast Controversy
Warner Bros, the film studio behind Sinners, reportedly raised concerns directly with Bafta staff following the incident and requested the removal of the offensive language from the BBC broadcast, which aired two hours later. It is understood that Warner Bros representatives were reassured this request would be passed on, and Bafta maintained communication with the studio throughout the evening.
However, the slur was broadcast by the BBC, leading to condemnation from Labour MP Dawn Butler. The MP for Brent Central accused the BBC of "an obvious bias" and a "failure of duty of care," stating the language "should never have been aired" and describing its broadcast as "painful and unforgivable." She has written to outgoing director-general Tim Davie demanding an explanation.
Resignation and Broader Criticism
Filmmaker Jonte Richardson announced his resignation from the Bafta emerging talent judging panel over the academy's handling of the incident. In a statement on LinkedIn, Richardson said: "After considerable soul-searching, I feel compelled to withdraw. The organisation's handling of the unfortunate Tourette's N-word incident last night at the awards was utterly unforgivable."
He added: "I cannot and will not contribute my time, energy and expertise to an organisation that has repeatedly failed to safeguard the dignity of its black guests, members and the black creative community." Richardson noted this was particularly unfortunate given the presence of incredible black talent in this year's cohort, including one of his favourite shows of 2025, Just Act Normal.
Apologies and Explanations
Bafta has since apologised for the incident, taking "full responsibility" for putting its guests in a "difficult situation." In a statement released on Monday night, the academy apologised "unreservedly" to Jordan and Lindo, and "to all those impacted," praising their "incredible dignity and professionalism." The statement continued: "We will learn from this and keep inclusion at the core of all we do."
The BBC also apologised for not editing the slur out, confirming it would be removed from BBC iPlayer. A spokesperson 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."
Involuntary Nature and Campaigner's Response
The slur was shouted by Tourette's campaigner John Davidson, who was at the Baftas representing the film I Swear, which tells the story of his life with the condition. Davidson, awarded an MBE in 2019 for his efforts to increase understanding of Tourette syndrome, expressed being "deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning."
In a statement to the Press Association, Davidson said he chose to leave the auditorium early as he was "aware of the distress my tics were causing." According to the NHS, Tourette syndrome is a condition that causes people to make sudden, repetitive sounds or movements which, in rare instances, can result in offensive language being used, that cannot be controlled. There is no cure, but treatment can help manage the tics.
The film I Swear saw success at the awards, with star Robert Aramayo winning best actor for his performance, and the film also winning best casting. Aramayo was additionally named EE Rising Star, highlighting the bittersweet nature of the evening for those involved.
