The BBC has issued a new apology for its handling of the incident at the Bafta film awards which saw the N-word broadcast during BBC One coverage of the ceremony and remain overnight on BBC iPlayer. The BBC has now taken down the show from the iPlayer platform and says it will re-edit it amid a growing backlash.
In a statement the BBC said: “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 and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer.”
The incident was sparked by Tourette syndrome activist John Davidson who attended the Baftas as I Swear, the film inspired by his life of dealing with hostility triggered by TS, was up for a number of awards. He was heard several times shouting during the ceremony, including the N-word while actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan were on stage presenting the evening’s first prize.
During the ceremony Baftas host Alan Cumming made announcements explaining the situation, saying: “Tourette syndrome is a disability, and the tics you’ve heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette syndrome has no control over their language. We apologise if you are offended tonight.”
Figures including actors Jamie Foxx and Wendell Pierce expressed their dismay, with Foxx calling it “unacceptable” and Pierce saying: “It’s infuriating that the first reaction wasn’t complete and full throatted [sic] apologies to Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan. The insult to them takes priority. It doesn’t matter the reasoning for the racist slur.” Sinners’ production designer Hannah Beachler said on social media that she had also had a racial slur directed at her, and criticised what she called Bafta’s “throwaway” apology.
However the organisation has yet to address why the slur was not cut from the original broadcast while a comment by Akinola Davies Jr referencing the Israel-Gaza war, and Cumming’s joke appearing to refer to Donald Trump, were deleted. The Bafta film awards were shown on BBC One on Sunday with a two-hour delay.
Bafta has also been approached for comment.
