The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) apologized on February 23 for an incident involving a racial slur at the BAFTA Film Awards held the previous day in London. During the February 22 ceremony, John Davidson, a Tourette’s syndrome advocate, involuntarily shouted the n-word while Black actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting onstage.
This incident, which occurred during the broadcast on BBC One, was not edited out and remained available briefly on BBC iPlayer before being removed. BAFTA addressed the situation promptly with a public statement expressing regret for the harm caused and offering an unreserved apology to both actors and all affected by the offensive language.
Details of the Incident and Immediate Reactions
John Davidson, 54, who has lived with Tourette’s syndrome since age 12, attended the awards ceremony to represent the film I Swear, which depicts his life and experiences with the condition. His involuntary tic during the ceremony included the racial slur that was audible to the audience and viewers.
In its official apology, BAFTA recognized the severity of the language used.
“At the BAFTA Film Awards last night our guests heard very offensive language that carries incomparable trauma and pain for so many. We want to acknowledge the harm this has caused, address what happened and apologise to all,”
stated the organization.
The statement further explained,
“Early in the ceremony a loud tic in the form of a profoundly offensive term was heard by many people in the room. Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage at the time, and we apologise unreservedly to them, and to all those impacted. We would like to thank Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism.”
BAFTA’s Approach to Inclusion and Handling of the Situation
BAFTA highlighted that proactive measures were taken to inform attendees about Davidson’s presence and the possibility of involuntary noises or language.
“We take the duty of care to all our guests very seriously and start from a position of inclusion. We took measures to make those in attendance aware of the tics, announcing to the audience before the ceremony began, and throughout, that John was in the room and that they may hear strong language, involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony,”
the statement read.
Following the episode, Davidson left the auditorium and watched the remainder of the event on a screen elsewhere. BAFTA admitted full responsibility for placing guests in a difficult position, saying,
“We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation and we apologise to all. We will learn from this, and keep inclusion at the core of all we do, maintaining our belief in film and storytelling as a critical conduit for compassion and empathy.”
Response from Presenters and Notable Industry Figures
Alan Cumming, who hosted the BAFTA Film Awards, addressed the incident from the stage.
“You may have noticed some strong language in the background. This can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people as the film explores that experience,”
he explained.
“Thanks for your understanding and for helping create a respectful space for everyone.”
Off-camera, Delroy Lindo spoke about the aftermath during a Warner Brothers event, revealing that he and Michael B. Jordan did not receive direct communication from BAFTA after the ceremony.
“We did what we had to do,”
Lindo said, while also wishing
“someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterwards.”
The incident sparked criticism across social media and from public figures such as Jamie Foxx and Wendell Pierce. On X, Pierce wrote,
“It’s infuriating that the first reaction wasn’t complete and full throated apologies to Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan. The insult to them takes priority. It doesn’t matter the reasoning for the racist slur.”
Broadcaster Apology and Subsequent Actions
The BBC, which aired the ceremony live, issued an apology for failing to remove the offensive language from the broadcast.
“Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards. This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony, it was not intentional. We [apologize] that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer,”
the network said in a statement.
Recognitions and Awards from the Ceremony
The BAFTA Film Awards also celebrated notable achievements, including the success of the film I Swear, whose lead actor Robert Aramayo portrays a young John Davidson. Meanwhile, the film Sinners, which stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo, made history by securing three BAFTA trophies, marking it as the most-decorated movie directed by a Black filmmaker at the event.
It’s infuriating that the first reaction wasn’t complete and full throatted apologies to Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan. The insult to them takes priority. It doesn’t matter the reasoning for the racist slur. https://t.co/oqFj9SdoST
— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) February 23, 2026
