BBC and BAFTA Apologize After Racial Slur Airs in Delayed BAFTA Broadcast

Overview

• John Davidson, a Tourette syndrome advocate whose life inspired the film I Swear, involuntarily shouted a racist slur while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage at the Feb. 22 ceremony.
• The BBC said the language stemmed from involuntary tics, apologized for not cutting it from the two-hour delayed broadcast, and said the on‑demand version would be updated to remove it.
• BAFTA issued an apology to Jordan and Lindo, accepted responsibility for placing guests in a difficult situation, and said it would learn from the incident while keeping inclusion central to its work.
• Davidson released a statement expressing mortification, noting the audience had been warned about his involuntary tics, and saying he left the auditorium early due to the disruption.
• Critics faulted BAFTA and the BBC for editorial judgment, noting other moments were removed in postproduction, and production designer Hannah Beachler reported hearing insults directed at her.