The BBC has issued a second apology after a racial slur was broadcast during the Bafta film awards on Sunday. The slur, the N-word, was shouted involuntarily by John Davidson, a Tourette syndrome campaigner, as actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan were on stage presenting an award. The offensive language was not edited out of the live broadcast and remained on BBC iPlayer overnight before being removed.
BBC producers overseeing the ceremony said they did not hear the slur because they were working from a production truck. The corporation confirmed that other instances of inappropriate language had been cut, but this one was missed. The BBC's apology stated: '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 apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast.'
Bafta also issued a statement, apologising for putting guests in a 'very difficult situation' and acknowledging the 'trauma and pain' caused by the language. Host Alan Cumming had explained during the ceremony that Davidson's tics were involuntary and apologised for any offence. However, the incident drew criticism from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who called it a 'horrible mistake', and from actors Jamie Foxx and Wendell Pierce, who expressed dismay at the handling of the situation.
Delroy Lindo later told Vanity Fair that he and Jordan 'did what we had to do' by remaining calm, but wished Bafta had spoken to them afterwards. Tourettes Action, a campaign group, released a statement addressing negative comments about Davidson, emphasising that his tics were involuntary.
