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BBC and host apologize after racial slur shouted during BAFTA awards by guest with Tourette’s
John Davidson, a Tourette’s campaigner, involuntarily shouted offensive language during the BAFTA ceremony, prompting apologies from BAFTA and the BBC for unfiltered broadcast.
- On Sunday, John Davidson, Tourette's campaigner and inspiration for I Swear, was audible on BBC One shouting a racial slur as Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented at the BAFTA Film Awards.
- Campaigners and medical explanations point to involuntary verbal tics from Tourette's syndrome, while organisers had warned the audience that involuntary noises or movements might occur.
- Technical checks show the tics were picked up by venue microphones, the two-hour delayed broadcast carried them, and the clip briefly remained on BBC iPlayer before removal.
- Critics demanded explanations and called for bleeping pre-recorded shows after Ed Palmer, vice chairman of Tourettes Action, suggested it while Kemi Badenoch, Conservative Party leader, called the BBC `a horrible mistake`.
- Beyond the ceremony, the incident highlighted the film I Swear and experts noted coprolalia affects between 10% to 30% of people with Tourette's, prompting calls for public education.
353 Articles
353 Articles
The Tourette row at the Baftas
The BBC has apologised for failing to edit out a racial slur shouted during the Bafta awards ceremony by a guest with Tourette syndrome. John Davidson, whose condition causes involuntary outbursts and whose life story inspired the movie “I Swear”, yelled out the N-word while Black actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award.‘Empty’ apologiesShortly afterwards, ceremony host Alan Cumming apologised “if you are offended toni…
News & Star
Film studio raised immediate concerns about racial slur at Baftas
It is understood Warner Bros requested the incident be removed from the broadcast.
BBC apologises after racial slur aired from BAFTAs audience member with Tourette syndrome - while political speech is edited down
The BBC has issued an apology after a racial slur was heard during last night's broadcast of the BAFTA Film Awards from Royal Festival Hall on Sunday (22 February).The comments by audience member John Davidson, who suffers from a form of Tourette’s syndrome that includes uncontrollable vocal tics, were made while Sinners stars Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting the first award of the night.BAFTAs host Alan Cumming addressed the in…
Racial Slur Interrupts Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo at 2026 BAFTAs, Sparking Debate on Racism, Disability, and Accountability
During the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday, Feb. 22, actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo, co-stars of the hit film “Sinners,” took the stage at London’s Royal Festival Hall to present the award for best visual effects. The slur that stole the show As they began their remarks, an audience member was heard […] The post Racial Slur Interrupts Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo at 2026 BAFTAs, Sparking Debate on Racism, Disability, and Accoun…
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