Overview
- Cumming said he refused to engage with BAFTA leaders after the film awards and called the fallout a “s***show.”
- The controversy began when Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson involuntarily shouted a racial slur that aired as Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented an award.
- The BBC left the moment in the live show and initially on iPlayer, which led to apologies from the broadcaster and BAFTA and to Davidson saying he felt “deeply mortified.”
- Cumming said he did not hear the slur, read an onstage apology without full context, and condemned what he called “bad” leadership and poor preparation.
- He said staff warned him to expect “noise” and had considered testing him with simulated shouts during rehearsal.