The BBC launched a swift internal investigation after a racist slur was broadcast during the 79th BAFTA Awards, despite a two-hour delay between filming and broadcast.
The broadcaster described the incident as a “serious error” and confirmed that its Executive Complaints Unit would review how the commentary was broadcast and it subsequently remained available on iPlayer until the following morning.
BBC BAFTA investigation into racial slurs And the political reaction
General Manager Tim Davie has instructed the Executive Complaints Unit to complete a rapid investigation and respond directly to viewers. Culture Minister Lisa Nandy welcomed the decision and described the broadcast of the slur as “completely unacceptable and harmful”.
The Baftas were rocked by shocking slurs on stage, with host Alan Cumming issuing an apology with an ‘I swear’ statement.
The accident occurred while actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award. John Davidson, the Tourette’s campaigner who inspired one of the winning films, shouted the N-word during the ceremony. He later said he was “absolutely terrified” and attributed the outburst to tics associated with Tourette’s syndrome.Reports indicate that Warner Bros. She raised immediate concerns and requested the slur be removed.
However, he remained in the final broadcast. This controversy comes after previous criticism of the BBC’s coverage of the Glastonbury Festival, when rap duo Bob Phelan’s live broadcast included an anti-Israel chant. The broadcaster later apologized and said it would stop live broadcasts deemed “high risk”.
John Davidson explains Tourette’s response in an interview
After the ceremony, Davidson spoke to Variety magazine about what happened. He said the vocal tics disrupted the event and explained that the offensive language was not intended.
He stressed that his tics “have absolutely nothing to do with what I think, feel or believe.”He acknowledged that one of the words uttered was a racial slur, and said he understands its historical and modern impact. At the same time, he explained that he had flagged “maybe 10 different offensive words” during the evening and that focusing on one term created a misleading image.“What you’re hearing is a symptom, not my personality, not my thinking, not my beliefs,” he told Variety.Davidson’s team has confirmed that it has contacted the studio behind “Sinners” to apologize directly to Jordan, Lindo and production designer Hannah Beachler. The BBC said it had ordered an urgent investigation, with scrutiny continuing by political and industrial leaders.
