BAFTA sends letters to members promising 'comprehensive review' of its 2026 Film Awards ceremony after a Tourette's sufferer involuntarily shouted a racial slur at black Hollywood stars
BAFTA has sent letters to its members promising a 'comprehensive review' of its 2026 ceremony after a Tourette's sufferer and landmark campaigner involuntarily shouted a racial slur while two black actors were on stage.
John Davidson, 54, shouted the N-Word while Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award during Sunday's ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall in London.
Scotsman Davidson, whose life story inspired the film I Swear, suffers from uncontrollable tics which see him sometimes shout expletives or deeply offensive language.
There was considerable backlash to the incident after BBC bosses failed to edit out the outburst prior to the awards ceremony airing, despite it not being broadcast live.
Now in a letter to its members, BAFTA has said it has launched a 'comprehensive review' after apologising to Jordan and Lindo and admitted it had put guests in a 'difficult situation'.
After the awards, Davidson told how he felt a 'wave of shame' over his tic, issuing a swift apology and saying he was 'deeply mortified'. He was attending the ceremony after the film based on his life, I Swear, was nominated in five categories.
Following Sunday's ceremony, Lindo hit out at BAFTA for failing to address the incident with him.
He said he and Jordan 'did what we had to do' while presenting, but he wished 'someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterward'.
John Davidson, who yelled the N-word during the BAFTAs while two black actors were on stage, has said he is 'deeply mortified' by his outburst
Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting the first prize of the night at London's Royal Festive Hall on Sunday when the outburst took place
And film-maker Jonte Richardson has said he is stepping down as a Bafta judge over the academy's handling of the incident.
In its letter to BAFTA members, a spokesperson has since said: 'We are in contact with the studios involved and conversations are ongoing.
'We want to assure all our members that a comprehensive review is underway. You may have also seen the BBC have issued their own apology for the broadcast.
'It was a very complex situation and we understand you will have many questions – please rest assured how seriously we are taking this.'
Davidson, who has suffered from a severe form of Tourette's since the age of 12, also shouted 'paedophile' at host Alan Cummings, he has said.
One of Davidson's biggest symptoms is coprolalia which makes him involuntarily say socially inappropriate words or phrases, including when he famously shouted 'f*** the Queen' at Elizabeth II when he was awarded his MBE in 2019.
Campaigners emphasise that the shouting of such offensive language does not imply any meaning on behalf of the sufferer and is entirely involuntarily.
He has reached out to the studio producing Sinners to apologize to Jordan, Lindo and production designer Hannah Beachler, who said a racial slur was aimed at her as she made her way to dinner after the show.
The BBC previously said that a second racial slur had been edited out of the broadcast prior to it airing on Sunday.
In a statement on Monday, Davidson said: '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.'
BAFTA host Alan Cumming thanked the audience for their understanding of Tourette's as I Swear's John Davidson let out involuntary shouts during Sunday's ceremony - Davidson also yelled 'paedophile' during a segment by the host
'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.'
Davidson has since questioned the decision to seat him directly in front of a microphone during the BAFTAs, and said he had been under the impression any offensive outbursts would be edited out prior to broadcast.
He told Variety: 'I have made four documentaries with the BBC in the past, and feel that they should have been aware of what to expect from Tourette's and worked harder to prevent anything that I said — which, after all, was some 40 rows back from the stage — from being included in the broadcast.
'As I reflect on the auditorium, I remember there was a microphone just in front of me, and with hindsight I have to question whether this was wise, so close to where I was seated, knowing I would tic.'
Following the initial controversy, BAFTA said in a statement: '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.'
They continued: '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.'
The BBC has since apologised to staff for failing to edit out the N-word, after it was broadcast on TV and also audible on the ceremony on iPlayer for around 12 hours before being removed.
Citing BBC sources, BBC News reported yesterday that the producers responsible for editing the show ahead of broadcast 'simply did not hear the slur' shouted when Jordan and Lindo were on stage - but had caught the other occurrence in time.
The corporation said in a statement: 'Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the Bafta Film Awards.
'This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional.
'We apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer.'
Charity Tourettes Action said it 'deeply understands' the harm of the racial slur, but called for understanding of the condition.
A spokesperson for the charity said: '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.'
