BAFTA Awards Fallout Continues: Org Takes ‘Full Responsibility’ for Racial Slur Incident, as John Davidson Says He’s ‘Deeply Mortified’

The fallout from Sunday’s BAFTA Film Awards continues. As IndieWire reported earlier, the weekend ceremony was interrupted by early outbursts from “I Swear” subject John Davidson, who has Tourette Syndrome, including a racial slur directed at presenters Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo.

Following the show’s live event, the incident was not edited out of the show’s official broadcast (which aired on Sunday after a standard two-hour tape delay) or the version available on the BBC’s streamer, iPlayer. (The show is now no longer available online.)

In the minutes and hours that followed the incident, the BBC and BAFTA were met with major backlash from both those in the room (including “Sinners” production designer Hannah Beachler) and those who observed the events online, both in clips and the original broadcast.

While the BBC issued a short apology on Monday morning, the statement was mostly concerned with the editing aspects of the show, not the full incident itself, in part reading “we apologise that this [incident] was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer.”

Now, BAFTA has now released a longer statement, which you can read in full below. In the statement, the organization notes that the “very offensive language [heard] … carries incomparable trauma and pain for so many. We want to acknowledge the harm this has caused, address what happened and apologise to all.”

The statement also makes special mention of Jordan and Lindo, adding that, “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.”

BAFTA also thanked Davidson, sharing that “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.”

Davidson has now also issued his own statement (via Deadline), which you can also read in full below. In it, he shared, “I am, and always have been deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning.” He also noted, “My tics are involuntary and are not a reflection of my personal beliefs.”

The full BAFTA statement follows:

“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.“

Davidson’s statement follows:

“I wanted to thank BAFTA and everyone involved in the awards last night for their support and understanding and inviting me to attend the broadcast. I appreciated the announcement to the auditorium in advance of the recording, warning everyone that my tics are involuntary and are not a reflection of my personal beliefs. 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. 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 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 into the ceremony as I was aware of the distress my tics were causing.”

However, we also want to address the negative comments that have surfaced following John’s involuntary vocal tics during the ceremony. We deeply understand that these words can cause hurt but at the same time, it is vital that the public understands a fundamental truth about Tourette syndrome: tics are involuntary. They are not a reflection of a person’s beliefs, intentions, or character.

People with Tourette’s can say words or phrases they do not mean, do not endorse, and feel great distress about afterwards. These symptoms are neurological, not intentional, and they are something John – like many others with Tourette’s – lives with every single day.

The backlash from certain parts of the media has been extremely saddening, particularly given how hard John works to raise awareness and understanding. What should have been a night of celebration for him became overwhelming, and he made the difficult decision to leave the ceremony. This moment reflects exactly what ‘I Swear’ shows so openly: the isolation, misunderstanding, and emotional weight that so often accompany this condition. People with Tourette’s manage their physical and social environments and symptoms on a constant basis. The price of being misunderstood is increased isolation, risk of anxiety and depression and death by suicide.

We hope that those commenting will take the time to watch the film, learn about Tourette’s, and understand the experiences behind moments like these. Education is key, and compassion makes a world of difference.”