BAFTA host Alan Cumming has criticized the BBC for broadcasting a racial slur during the awards ceremony, describing the event as a 'trauma-triggering shitshow.' The incident involved Tourette syndrome activist John Davidson, who shouted the N-word while actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage presenting an award.
Key Takeaways
The BBC has apologized for broadcasting a racial slur during the BAFTA Film Awards ceremony, calling it a 'genuine mistake.' Director General Tim Davie expressed profound regret over the incident, which involved Tourette's campaigner John Davidson. The slur was shouted while actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award.
Cumming apologized to Black viewers and the Tourette's community for the pain caused by the broadcast. He acknowledged that the decision to both broadcast slurs and censor free speech let down everyone involved. The BBC later admitted it was a 'serious mistake' and is conducting a fast-tracked investigation.
Davidson, who was at the ceremony to celebrate the film I Swear, which depicts his life, expressed deep mortification over the incident. The film won two BAFTAs, including Best Actor for Robert Aramayo, who portrays Davidson.
The BBC's director general Tim Davie has since described the broadcast of the racial slur as a 'genuine mistake,' stating that no one in the on-site broadcast truck heard the slur during the live feed. As a result, there was no editorial decision made to remove it from the subsequent TV broadcast or iPlayer.
Davie revealed that there were two instances where racial slurs were shouted during the ceremony. The first occurred while Jordan and Lindo were presenting an award, and the second happened about 10 minutes later when Sinners star Wunmi Mosaku was accepting the best supporting actress prize. In the latter instance, the edit team did hear the slur and removed it immediately from the broadcast version.
The BBC's chief content officer Kate Phillips acknowledged the 'upset and hurt' caused by the incident and assured staff that an investigation is ongoing. Davie also addressed criticism regarding the delay in removing the ceremony from iPlayer, stating that the on-site team did not initially believe the slur was audible on the broadcast.
Bafta has initiated a comprehensive review of the incident and expressed its apologies to those impacted. The BBC's Executive Complaints Unit is conducting a fast-tracked investigation, with plans to share outcomes and any actions taken to strengthen processes once concluded.
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