The British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) and BBC issued apologies on Monday for the use of a racial slur that occurred during the live broadcast of Sunday’s event while actors from the film “Sinners” were on stage.
A Tourette syndrome advocate, who involuntarily shouted the offensive word, expressed deep regret, emphasizing that his outburst did not reflect his personal beliefs. The incident took place as Black actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo, from “Sinners,” were presenting the award for best visual effects at the BAFTA ceremony.
During the show, host Alan Cumming acknowledged the presence of John Davidson, a Tourette syndrome advocate who inspired the BAFTA-nominated film “I Swear.” After the incident, Cumming apologized to the audience for the use of “strong and offensive language.”
The academy later issued an apology for the offensive language, acknowledging the distress it may have caused. They commended Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo for their professionalism during the incident.
Tourettes Action, a Tourette syndrome charity, called for understanding of the condition, emphasizing that tics associated with the disorder are involuntary and do not reflect a person’s beliefs or character.
The Tourette Association of America notes that a small percentage of individuals with Tourette’s experience coprolalia, which involves involuntary swearing or the use of socially unacceptable words.
The BBC, which aired the ceremony with the incident, apologized for the oversight and stated that the offensive word would be edited out from the broadcast. The film “I Swear” received two BAFTA awards, with Robert Aramayo winning best actor for his portrayal of John Davidson.
Requests for comments from the film representatives and the actors involved in the incident were not immediately returned.
