BAFTA has released a full apology after a racial slur was shouted at Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo during last night's awards ceremony.
Tourette’s campaigner, John Davidson, was heard shouting the N-word at Jordan and Lindo as they took to the stage to present the BAFTA for best visual effects. BAFTA attendees were warned that Davidson - who is the inspiration behind Kirk Jones’ I Swear starring Best Actor winner Robert Aramayo - could involuntarily use offensive language ahead of the show.
The BBC apologised for the “strong and offensive language” and for inexplicably deciding not to cut the slur from its final broadcast, which aired on a two-hour delay. Now, BAFTA has shared the following statement with THR.
"One of our guests, John Davidson MBE, has Tourette Syndrome and has devoted his life to educating and campaigning for better understanding of this condition. Tourette Syndrome causes involuntary verbal tics, that the individual has no control over. Such tics are in no way a reflection of an individual’s beliefs and are not intentional. John Davidson is an executive producer of the BAFTA nominated film, I Swear, which is based on his life experience.
We take the duty of care to all our guests very seriously and start from a position of inclusion. We took measures to make those in attendance aware of the tics, announcing to the audience before the ceremony began, and throughout, that John was in the room and that they may hear strong language, involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony. Early in the ceremony a loud tic in the form of a profoundly offensive term was heard by many people in the room. Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage at the time, and we apologise unreservedly to them, and to all those impacted. We would like to thank Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism.
During the ceremony, 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.
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. "