BBC Apologises After Racial Slur Aired During BAFTA Awards Broadcast

The BBC has issued a formal apology after a racial slur was broadcast during its delayed coverage of the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards, prompting criticism from actors and members of the film industry.

The incident occurred during Sunday night’s ceremony in London when actor Michael B. Jordan and veteran performer Delroy Lindo were on stage presenting an award. A guest in the audience, identified as John Davidson, shouted a racial slur. Davidson, whose life story inspired the award winning film I Swear, lives with Tourette syndrome, a neurological condition that can cause involuntary verbal and physical tics, including sudden outbursts of words.

Although the ceremony was not aired live and was broadcast around two hours later, the offensive language was not edited out of the programme. The remark also remained available on BBC iPlayer until Monday morning. The broadcaster said it regretted failing to remove the language before transmission.

In a statement, a BBC spokesperson acknowledged that viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the awards broadcast. The spokesperson explained that the words were the result of involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome and were not intentional. The BBC apologised for not editing the language before airing and confirmed that it has now been removed from its streaming platform.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts also issued a statement expressing regret. BAFTA said it wanted to acknowledge the harm caused and apologised unreservedly to those affected, including Jordan and Lindo. The organisation said it had informed the audience during the ceremony about the possibility of strong language due to the condition but accepted responsibility for the difficult situation that unfolded.

Host Alan Cumming addressed the audience later in the evening, explaining that the outburst was beyond the guest’s control and apologising to viewers who were offended.

However, several figures from the film community said the response at the time was insufficient. Actor Wendell Pierce, known for his work alongside Jordan in The Wire, said on social media that an immediate and full apology should have taken priority. Production designer Hannah Beachler, who worked on Sinners, described the situation as deeply uncomfortable and said the apology delivered during the ceremony did not fully address the impact.

Sinners, a vampire thriller celebrating blues music and Black culture in the segregation-era American South, has enjoyed a landmark awards season. The film received 16 Oscar nominations and won several honours at the BAFTAs, including best original screenplay for Ryan Coogler and best supporting actress for Wunmi Mosaku.

Tourettes Action, a charity supporting people with Tourette syndrome, said it understood the hurt caused but emphasised that tics are involuntary and do not reflect a person’s beliefs or character. The group called for greater public awareness of the condition while acknowledging the pain felt by those affected by the language used.