BBC Confirms Second Racist Slur Edited from BAFTA Ceremony Broadcast
The BBC has acknowledged that a second racist slur was removed from the edited broadcast of the BAFTA ceremony, while admitting that an initial offensive remark was inadvertently aired due to an editing oversight. The incident occurred during Sunday night's event, where Tourette's campaigner John Davidson, attending after inspiring the film I Swear, experienced involuntary tics that led him to shout a racial slur. This happened as actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the first award of the evening.
Apologies and Internal Communications
In an email to BBC staff, chief content officer Kate Phillips expressed regret for the error, confirming that another racial slur had been excised from the broadcast. She stated, "The edit team removed another racial slur from the broadcast. This one was aired in error and we would never have knowingly allowed this to be broadcast. We take full responsibility for what happened." The ceremony, which was condensed from three hours to two, initially aired with the offensive moment intact and remained accessible on BBC iPlayer for over twelve hours before being taken down for editing.
Filmmaker's Resignation and BAFTA's Response
Filmmaker Jonte Richardson announced his resignation as a BAFTA emerging talent judge on Monday, citing the organization's handling of the situation. In an online statement, he criticized BAFTA for repeatedly failing to protect the black community, calling the incident "utterly unforgivable." Richardson declared, "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."
BAFTA issued an apology on Monday night, taking full responsibility for placing guests in a difficult position and expressing regret to Jordan, Lindo, and all affected individuals. The statement emphasized a commitment to learning from the event and maintaining inclusion as a core value.
Background on Tourette Syndrome and Aftermath
Tourette syndrome, as explained by the NHS, involves sudden, repetitive sounds or movements known as tics, which can be triggered by factors like stress or excitement. Only about one in ten people with the condition experience coprolalia, where tics involve inappropriate language. Davidson, who was made an MBE in 2019 for his advocacy, left the auditorium early due to the distress caused by his tics.
The BBC had previously apologized for not editing out the slur, noting in a statement that it arose from involuntary tics associated with Tourette syndrome and was not intentional. Host Alan Cumming addressed the interruption during the ceremony to provide context. Meanwhile, the film I Swear, based on Davidson's memoir, gained attention as British newcomer Robert Aramayo won best actor at the BAFTAs for his performance in it.
