Racial slur aimed at Michael B. Jordan, Delroy Lindo prompts apologies

The BAFTAs, the BBC and John Davidson have spoken out amid backlash after Tourette's advocate Davidson hurled a racial slur in an outburst while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented onstage.

The broadcaster aired the slur after Davidson, who has Tourette syndrome and was in attendance as part of the BAFTA-nominated film "I Swear," shouted out while the "Sinners" stars, who are both Black, presented the award for best visual effects at the awards ceremony, the United Kingdom equivalent of the Oscars, on Sunday, Feb. 22.

The moment was not edited out of the broadcast, which aired on a two-hour delay, and remained on the BBC's streaming service through the morning after. The BBC identified Davidson, the subject whose story is told in "I Swear," as the guest and has since apologized for the move, saying that a shout was audible, but the word would have been difficult to make out.

"The BBC has apologised for not editing out a racial slur from its Bafta Film Awards coverage after a guest with Tourette's syndrome shouted out when two black actors were on stage," the outlet wrote.

The British broadcaster added in a statement: "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."

Davidson has Tourette's with Coprolalia, which involves involuntary outbursts of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks, according to the Tourette Association of America. The majority of people with Tourette syndrome do not have Coprolalia, with a prevalence of 10-33% of people, according to the National Library of Medicine.

USA TODAY has reached out to Jordan and Lindo's reps for comment.

Delroy Lindo reacts to BAFTAs racial slur incident

Lindo told Vanity Fair at a Warner Brothers post-ceremony afterparty that he and Jordan "did what we had to do" by continuing to present, but that he also wished "someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterwards."

Multiple times during the award show, Alan Cumming briefly paused to address Davidson's expletives and racial slurs. "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, per Variety. "Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone."

According to Variety and Deadline, several outbursts were heard in the room, including "boring" and "shut the [expletive] up" when BAFTA chair Sara Putt gave an introductory speech during the awards show ceremony, and another expletive was shouted when directors of "Boong" accepted the award for best children's and family film.

'Deeply mortified' John Davidson left his seat after becoming 'aware of the distress my tics were causing'

Davidson spoke out in a statement shared by Variety Monday, Feb. 23, and said he felt "mortified."

"I appreciated the announcement to the auditorium in advance of the recording, warning everyone that my tics are involuntary and are not a reflection of my personal beliefs," Davidson said. "I was heartened by the round of applause that followed this announcement and felt welcomed and understood in an environment that would normally be impossible for me.

"In addition to the announcement by Alan Cumming, the BBC and BAFTA, I can only add that I am, and always have been deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning," he continued.

"I have spent my life trying to support and empower the Tourette's community and to teach empathy, kindness and understanding from others and I will continue to do so. I chose to leave the auditorium early into the ceremony as I was aware of the distress my tics were causing."

BAFTA apologizes for 'very offensive language that carries incomparable trauma and pain'

In a lengthy statement published by The Hollywood Reporter, the award show's leadership offered an apology for "putting our guests in a very difficult situation" and explained the events of the evening.

"At the BAFTA Film Awards last night, our guests heard very offensive language that carries incomparable trauma and pain for so many. We want to acknowledge the harm this has caused, address what happened and apologise to all," the statement began.

The film organization then explained Davidson has "devoted his life to educating and campaigning for better understanding" of Tourette's and "such tics are in no way a reflection of an individual's beliefs and are not intentional."

The BAFTAs' "duty of care to all our guests" starts "from a position of inclusion," which entailed disclaimers about Davidson's tics – which could involved "strong language, involuntary noises or movements" – before and during the ceremony, according to the statement.

"Early in the ceremony a loud tic in the form of a profoundly offensive term was heard by many people in the room," the organization said, apologizing "unreservedly" to Jordan and Lindo, as well as "to all those impacted." They also thanked the actors "for their incredible dignity and professionalism."

After the incident, "John chose to leave the auditorium and watch the rest of the ceremony from a screen, and we would like to thank him for his dignity and consideration of others, on what should have been a night of celebration for him," BAFTA said.

The statement concluded, "We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation and we apologise to all. We will learn from this, and keep inclusion at the core of all we do, maintaining our belief in film and storytelling as a critical conduit for compassion and empathy."

Reactions to racial slur outburst at BAFTAs highlight 'impossible,' 'volatile' situation

Several stars reacted to the moment on social media, sharing anger over what they feel are misdirected apologies.

Commenting under The Neighborhood Talk's Feb. 22 Instagram post, Jamie Foxx wrote, "Nah he meant that" and "unacceptable."

"Asking for more grace for the person who shouted a racist slur instead of for Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo, who had to push through being embarrassed in front of their peers," journalist Jemele Hill said on X. "But that's often the expectation — that Black people are just supposed to be ok with being disrespected and dehumanized so that other people don't feel bad."

Actor Wendell Pierce responded to Hill's post, writing, "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."

Hannah Beachler, a production designer for "Sinners," said one of Davidson's outbursts was aimed at her. She called it an "impossible situation."

"I know we must handle this with grace and continue to push through. But what made the situation worse was the throw away apology of 'if you were offended,' at the end of the show," she wrote on X early Monday. "Of course we were offended ... but our frequency, our spiritual vibration is tuned to a higher level than what happened. I am not steal [sic], this did not bounce off of me, but I exist above it."

Meanwhile, Variety awards editor Clayton Davis wrote that "the primary failure here rests with BAFTA and the BBC."

"They still allowed the slur to air, unfiltered, and then let the moment circulate as a clip — stripped of context and primed for outrage," he continued. "That decision poured gasoline on an already volatile situation."

Davis also notes the BBC managed to edit out filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr. saying "Free Palestine."

Contributing: Pamela Avila and KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY