At the BAFTA Awards on Sunday night, an unsettling moment unfolded when John Davidson, whose life inspired the British film I Swear, shouted the N-word at actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo while they were presenting the award for best visual effects. This incident occurred during a show where Davidson, who has Tourette’s syndrome, was experiencing involuntary verbal tics, which had been announced to the audience before the event began. Only after the slur was uttered did host Alan Cumming publicly address the situation from the stage.
Host Alan Cumming Addresses the Incident During the Ceremony
Alan Cumming explained the episode by highlighting the nature of Tourette’s syndrome, saying,
“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,”
Cumming said. He went on to thank the audience for their respect, stating,
“Thanks for your understanding and for helping create a respectful space for everyone.”
Following this, Davidson chose to leave the main auditorium and watch the remainder of the ceremony from a separate room.
Reaction From Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo After the Show
At the Warner Brothers afterparty, Delroy Lindo spoke with Vanity Fair about the difficult moment. He expressed that he and Michael B. Jordan handled the situation as needed during their presentation but voiced frustration that,
“someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterwards.”
Despite the tension, Lindo maintained a positive mood at the event, engaging with co-star Wunmi Mosaku, who won the BAFTA for best supporting actress. Jordan, meanwhile, attended a different afterparty hosted by British GQ and Vogue, appearing briefly as one of the hosts.
Concerns Raised About Broadcast Choices and Additional Incidents
Although the BAFTA Awards were aired on a tape delay, the racial slur was not cut from the broadcast. In contrast, the BBC chose to exclude Akinola Davies Jr.’s closing statement, where he said “free Palestine.” Sinners production designer Hannah Beachler revealed on X that Davidson’s outburst was not isolated, writing,
“is almost impossible, it happened 3 times that night, and one of the three times was directed at myself on the way to dinner after the show.”
This raised concerns about the extent of the disruption caused throughout the evening.
BBC Issues Formal Apology for Airing Offensive Language
On Monday, the BBC publicly apologized for including the offensive language in the televised ceremony. Their statement acknowledged that,
“some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards,”
clarifying that,
“this arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional.”
The broadcaster confirmed they will remove the offensive material from the version available on BBC iPlayer.
Impact and Atmosphere Following the Incident at BAFTA Events
After the awards, a BAFTA-hosted dinner brought nominees and guests together, where discussions about Davidson’s outburst dominated. While some could appreciate that Davidson’s Tourette’s syndrome inspired the film I Swear—with its lead Richard Aramayo winning the rising star award and best lead actor prize—many attendees were still visibly unsettled. Jordan appeared shocked when Davidson shouted from the auditorium, causing gasps from the audience. Though guests showed sensitivity toward all involved, the incident cast a shadow over the evening and remained the topic of conversation throughout the night.
I keep trying to write about what happened at the BAFTAs, and I can't find the words. The situation is almost impossible, but it happened 3 times that night, and one of the three times was directed at myself on the way to dinner after the show.
— HannahBeachler (@HannahEBeachler) February 23, 2026
