4 hours ago
3
BAFTA Film Awards 2026: Biggest Winners
BBC is addressing an uncomfortable moment at the 2026 BAFTAs.
During the Feb. 22 ceremony, John Davidson—whose journey with Tourette's Syndrome inspired the movie I Swear—shouted the N-word twice as Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the award for Best Visual Effects. And though the network kept the outburst in the UK broadcast, it later subsequently expressed regret.
"Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the Bafta Film Awards," a spokesperson for the BBC said in a Feb. 23 statement. "This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional.”
The statement added, "We apologize that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer."
The moment occurred when Davidson—whose condition can often cause involuntary vocal tics, according to Mayo Clinic—shouted the racial slur between Jordan and Lindo’s speeches ahead of presenting a BAFTA to Avatar: Fire and Ash. Upon hearing the N-word, both actors were visibly shocked before continuing to read from the teleprompter.
Lindo subsequently shared his reaction, admitting to Vanity Fair in an interview published Feb. 23 that he and his Sinners costar Jordan “did what we had to do.”
He added that he wished “someone from BAFTAs spoke to us afterwards.”
Photo by Joe Maher/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA
Though Davidson has yet to address his outbursts from the event—with multiple outlets reporting subsequent interruptions beyond Lindo and Jordan’s presentation—BAFTAs host Alan Cumming addressed the incident shortly afterwards.
“You may have heard some strong and offensive language tonight,” the Traitors host told the audience during the ceremony. “If you have seen the film I Swear, you will know that film is about the experience of a person with Tourette's syndrome.”
"Tourette's syndrome is a disability and the tics you have heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette syndrome has no control over their language,” he added. “We apologize if you were offended."
For a look at more stars in attendance at the 2026 BAFTAs, read on…
Photo by Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/Getty Images
Wunmi Mosaku
Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage
Kathryn Hahn
Photo by Joe Maher/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA
Kerry Washington
Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage
Maya Rudolph
Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage
Paul Mescal & Gracie Abrams
Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images
Chase Infiniti
Photo by Scott Garfitt/BAFTA via Getty Images
Kate Middleton & Prince William
Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images
Michael B. Jordan
Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage
Emma Stone
Photo by Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
Tom Blyth
Photo by Dominic Lipinski/Getty Images
Teyana Taylor
Photo by Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
Hannah Waddingham
Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage
Sadie Sink
Photo by Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
Timothée Chalamet
Photo by Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
Rose Byrne
Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage
Kate Hudson
Photo by Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
Minnie Driver
Photo by Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
Olivia Cooke
Photo by Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
Carey Mulligan
Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images
Aimee Lou Wood
Photo by Neil Mockford/FilmMagic
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Photo by Dominic Lipinski/Getty Images
Patrick Dempsey
Photo by Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
Odessa A'zion
Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images
Alicia Vikander
Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage
Erin Doherty
Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage
Rei Ami
Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage
Glenn Close
Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage
Jessie Buckley
Photo by Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
Renate Reinsve
Photo by Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
Chloé Zhao
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
English (US) ·