The BBC has apologised after a racial slur was broadcast live during the Bafta film awards, with producers saying they 'didn't hear' the word as they were working in a truck. The slur, the N-word, was uttered involuntarily by John Davidson, a Tourette syndrome campaigner, as actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan presented an award.
The broadcast remained on BBC iPlayer overnight before being taken down. The BBC later said the show would be re-edited. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called it a 'horrible mistake', noting that other inappropriate language, such as shouts of 'Free Palestine', had been bleeped out.
Producers overseeing the ceremony from a truck said they missed the slur. The BBC issued a new apology, stating that the word came from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome and was not intentional. Bafta also apologised, saying it took 'full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation'.
During the ceremony, host Alan Cumming explained that Tourette syndrome is a disability and tics are involuntary. Despite this, actors Jamie Foxx and Wendell Pierce criticised the incident, with Pierce saying the insult to Lindo and Jordan should have been prioritised. Lindo reportedly said he and Jordan 'did what we had to do' by remaining calm, but wished Bafta had spoken to them afterwards.
Davidson, who has Tourette syndrome, attended the awards as his film I Swear was nominated. He reportedly left the event midway through the evening.
