The BBC has apologized for “strong and offensive language” at the 2026 Bafta Film Awards after failing to remove the racial slur from its recent broadcast.
One of Tourette’s campaign members, John Davidson, was heard cursing throughout the show – including shouting the N-word as follows: Sinners Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the award for Best Visual Effects Avatar: Fire and Asheswhich sparked gasps from the audience and created a very uncomfortable atmosphere inside the Royal Festival Hall in London.
Davidson is the inspiration behind Kirk Jones’ critically acclaimed film I swearfollowing the struggles of a man who grew up with Tourette’s Syndrome. The condition is characterized by sudden, involuntary, repetitive movements or sounds. Often referred to as “tics,” they can manifest as outbursts such as swearing loudly.
The incident led to widespread debate among the film community and online, with questions being asked of Bafta and the BBC, who chose not to cut the expletives and racial slurs, despite the screening being broadcast after a two-hour delay.
The British Academy noted Hollywood Reporter to the BBC, which eventually provided a fuller statement around midday London time: “Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards,” the BBC said. “This was triggered by verbal tics associated with Tourette’s Syndrome, and as we explained during the concert this was not intentional. We apologize that this was not deleted prior to broadcast and will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer.”
Host Alan Cumming interrupted his monologue several times during the show to remind viewers: “Tourette syndrome is a disability and the tics you heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person with Tourette syndrome has no control over their language. We apologize if you felt offended tonight.”
Davidson was warmly welcomed by the floor manager before the awards ceremony began, and attendees were informed that “John suffers from Tourette’s Syndrome, so please be aware that you may hear some involuntary sounds or movements during the ceremony,” as housekeeping rules were put in place. informed source THR That this was the moment the presenters were warned about Davidson’s tics, minutes before the concert began. He left the room about 25 minutes after the show started (of his own volition, THR Understand), shortly after his outburst during Jordan and Lindo’s show. Other outbursts had come before this, including “Bullshit!” People were asked not to curse, and to “shut up”, when Sarah Boot, chair of BAFTA, made her introductory remarks.
The consensus that night varied depending on who you were talking to, but almost everyone agreed that both black attendees at the BAFTA Film Awards and the Tourette’s community had failed to deal with the situation. While many Britons maintained that Tourette’s syndrome was a serious, misunderstood condition, those living across the pond were less tolerant of tantrums. What has been underscored are necessary questions about competitiveness in the industry, and the duty of care towards awards ceremony guests and audiences watching at home.
Sinners“The situation is almost impossible,” production designer Hannah Beachler said in a post on social media after the screening. “I keep trying to write about what happened at the BAFTA ceremony and I can’t find the words,” she wrote on X. “It’s almost impossible, but it happened three times that night, and one of the three times was to myself on my way to dinner after the show,” she said of Davidson’s tics. “I understand and know deeply why this situation is impossible. I know we have to handle this with grace and keep moving forward. But what made the situation worse was the quick apology ‘if I was offended.’”
Aramayo’s upset win for his performance in I swear — On Timothée Chalamet Marty Supreme – It gave the actor an opportunity to bring more awareness to this condition. While receiving a previous award, the EE BAFTA Rising Star Award, Aramayo told the audience: “John Davidson is the most remarkable man I have ever met. He is very collaborative in education and believes there is still a lot we need to learn about Tourette’s.”
“For people living with Tourette’s syndrome, it’s us around them who help them define their experience. So, to quote the film, they need support and understanding,” he said.
Unsurprisingly, social media has fanned the flames. Some said Tourette’s was “debilitating”, with one person commenting: “That Tourette’s makes you shout really offensive things seems to have surprised people who have no idea what Tourette’s really is.” Others were not so understanding. For example, Jamie Foxx commented on an Instagram post saying that Davidson’s outburst was “unacceptable” and “he meant bullshit,” which users criticized as a misunderstanding of what Tourette’s is.
