BAFTA apologises “unreservedly” to Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan over racial slur

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BAFTA has sincerely apologized to Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan for a racist comment that was audible while they were presenting at the awards show on Sunday, February 22nd.

At last night’s BAFTA Film Awards, John Davidson, a campaigner with Tourette’s syndrome, experienced involuntary outbursts that were audible during the beginning of the ceremony.

During the BAFTA awards ceremony, where Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the award for Special Visual Effects, David Davidson, featured in the BAFTA-winning film I Swear, used a racial slur.

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Even though the event wasn’t live, a highly offensive term was accidentally aired on BBC One and initially appeared on BBC iPlayer. It has since been removed from iPlayer and edited out.

BAFTA released a statement today, February 23rd, apologizing to Jordan and Lindo for a highly offensive term that was said during the broadcast. They also thanked Davidson for handling the situation with grace and respect.

We’re deeply sorry that guests at last night’s BAFTA Film Awards were exposed to highly offensive language. We understand this language causes significant pain and trauma for many people, and we want to acknowledge the harm caused, explain what happened, and offer our sincere apologies to everyone affected.

John Davidson, a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), lives with Tourette Syndrome and has dedicated his life to raising awareness and understanding of the condition. Tourette’s causes involuntary sounds and movements, called tics, which people can’t control. These tics aren’t a sign of someone’s beliefs or intentions. John is also an executive producer of I Swear, a BAFTA-nominated film based on his own experiences with Tourette’s.

We prioritize the well-being of all our guests and believe in creating an inclusive environment. Knowing one of our attendees has tics, we informed the audience before and during the event that they might experience strong language or unexpected noises and movements. This ensured everyone understood and was prepared.

Okay, so during the event, a really awful and offensive slur accidentally got broadcast – it was super jarring for everyone who heard it. Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were actually on stage at the time, and honestly, I feel terrible for them. We’re sincerely sorry to both of them, and to anyone else who was affected. Seriously, they handled it with so much class and professionalism, and we really appreciate that.

During the event, John made the thoughtful decision to view the remainder of the ceremony on a screen rather than stay in the auditorium. We want to thank him for his grace and consideration, especially as it should have been a celebratory evening for him.

We sincerely apologize for the difficult experience our guests had and take full responsibility for the situation. We’re committed to learning from this and will continue to prioritize inclusivity in everything we do, because we believe film and storytelling are powerful tools for building understanding and compassion.

Pete Davidson released a statement through Variety expressing his gratitude to BAFTA and the awards show team for their support, understanding, and invitation to attend the broadcast.

He went on to say that he was grateful for the announcement made to the audience before the recording began. It explained that his involuntary movements, or tics, weren’t connected to his beliefs, and he really appreciated that. He was touched by the applause that followed, feeling accepted and understood in a setting where he usually wouldn’t feel comfortable.

Following Alan Cumming’s recent statement, and alongside the responses from the BBC and BAFTA, I want to emphasize that I’ve always been upset if anyone interprets my involuntary tics as deliberate or meaningful.

Davidson stated that the film I Swear provides a more comprehensive explanation of Tourette Syndrome – covering its causes, characteristics, and how it presents – than any other film or documentary.

Davidson concluded by saying he’s dedicated his life to supporting people with Tourette’s and promoting empathy, kindness, and understanding. He explained that he left the ceremony because he noticed his tics were bothering others and he didn’t want to cause distress, and that he will continue to support the Tourette’s community.

Throughout the event, host Alan Cumming clarified that Tourette syndrome is a disability and the sounds – called tics – heard were involuntary. He explained that people with Tourette’s can’t control these vocalizations and offered an apology if anyone was bothered by them.

Robert Aramayo, known for his role in I Swear, surprised many by winning the Leading Actor BAFTA award last night. He also received the Rising Star award, and the film itself won Best Casting.

Aramayo called for understanding of Tourette’s syndrome, something that I Swear aims to highlight.

I’ve never met anyone quite like John Davidson. He’s incredibly open about the importance of education, especially when it comes to understanding Tourette’s syndrome, and feels there’s still a lot more to discover.

Tonight, I especially want to reach out to those living with Tourette’s. What it’s like to have the condition is often shaped by how others react, so, as the movie says, they really need our support and understanding.

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2026-02-23 23:50