BAFTAs marred by racist slur shouted by guest with Tourette’s

During the BAFTA presentation of the award for special visual effects, a man with Tourette’s syndrome involuntarily shouted a racist slur as Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo stood onstage. The remark stunned the auditorium and was included in the delayed BBC broadcast, which later said it would remove the outburst from its streaming version.

Alan Cumming, the show’s host, twice explained that the comments were involuntary and offered: “We apologize if you are offended tonight.” BAFTA later apologized to Jordan and Lindo, praising “their incredible dignity and professionalism,” and took responsibility for putting guests in a difficult position.

The man, John Davidson, left the auditorium after the incident and returned later to see Robert Aramayo win the best actor prize for portraying him in the film I Swear. The broadcast choice and the organizers’ response drew sharp criticism. Kehinde Andrews said the airing showed a misunderstanding of how the term has been used to demean Black people.

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