The BBC’s director-general has issued a statement of regret after a moment when John Davidson, who has Tourette’s Syndrome, shouted the N-word during the BAFTAs was broadcast
BBC boss says they ‘profoundly regret’ broadcast of BAFTA racial slur(Image: BANG Showbiz)
The BBC’s outgoing director-general Tim Davie has said the corportation “profoundly regrets” that a racial slur was broadcast during the time-delayed coverage of the BAFTA Film Awards on BBC One.
During the BAFTAs, which were aired on 22 February, John Davidson, who has Tourette’s Syndrome, involuntarily shouted several slurs and offensive comments at guests and presenters.
This included the N-Word, which was shouted at Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo as they presented the award for Best Visual Effects, which made it into the live broadcast, despite the show airing hours after it was recorded. Davidson has coprolalia, a form of Tourette’s where vocal tics include expletive and offensive remarks.
READ MORE: Beloved BBC drama This Life celebrates 30th anniversary but where are the cast now?READ MORE: Furious Baftas host Alan Cummings slams BBC over ‘s***show’ saying ‘we were let down’
Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.
In a letter to the chairwoman of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage, Davie said: “I’d like to make clear: although the racial slur was symptomatic of a disability and an involuntary tic, it should never have been broadcast. It was a genuine mistake, and we take full responsibility for our error.”
Davie also responded to questions about why the incident was not edited out of the broadcast. He said: “Although this is the subject of ongoing review, our initial evidence gathering has found that no one in the on-site broadcast truck heard this when they were watching the live feed.
“Because no one in the broadcast truck was aware it was on the live feed, there was therefore no editorial decision made to leave the language in.”
Davidson has said he is “deeply mortified” by what happened at the BAFTAs. In a statement released on 23 February, he said: “I wanted to thank BAFTA and everyone involved in the awards last night for their support and understanding and for inviting me to attend the broadcast.
“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.”
Referencing an announcement made by show host Alan Cumming explaining Davidson’s condition to the audiences there and at home, he added: “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.
“I was in attendance to celebrate the film of my life, I Swear, which, more than any film or TV documentary, explains the origins, condition, traits, and manifestations of Tourette’s Syndrome. 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 in the ceremony as I was aware of the distress my tics were causing.”
His team added that Davidson reached out to the Sinners team to apologise directly to Jordan and Lindo. Lindo said he and Jordan “did what they had to do” during the incident but wished “someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterward”.
BAFTA released a statement in which they said: “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.
“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.”
For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .
