A BBC spokesperson has issued an apology following its broadcast of the 2026 edition of the 79th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs), which included a shouted racial slur from Tourette syndrome activist John Davidson.
As previously reported, Davidson, whose real-life story serves as the inspiration behind the BAFTA-winning 2025 film I Swear, was among the guests at this weekend’s ceremony. When Sinners actors Michael B. Jordan (a BAFTAs nominee this year) and Delroy Lindo took the stage to present an award, Davidson could be heard shouting the N-word.
Per reports, Davidson was not asked to leave following the incident, though he did voluntarily remove himself.
The ceremony aired on BBC One and iPlayer on Sunday (Feb. 22), with a brief clip of the outburst, one of several attributed to Davidson during the proceedings, quickly making the rounds on social media.
Now, it’s been confirmed that the moment will be nixed from the video-on-demand version of the ceremony.
“Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards,” a BBC spokesperson said in a statement to Complex on Monday (Feb. 23). “This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional. We apologize that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer.”
Complex has also reached out to BAFTA reps for comment. This story may be updated.
Tourette’s, as defined by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, is “a neurological disorder that may cause sudden unwanted and uncontrolled rapid and repeated movements or vocal sounds called tics.” There is no cure.
Coprolalia, sometimes associated with Tourette’s (but considered rare among patients), is the formal term given to a specific symptom involving “involuntary outburst of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks,” per the Tourette Association of America.
Alan Cumming, the host of this year’s BAFTA Film Awards, addressed Davidson’s outbursts during the ceremony.
“You may have heard some strong and offensive language tonight,” the host said, as seen here. “If you've 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've heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette's syndrome has no control over their language. We apologize if you were offended.”
Vanity Fair later reported that Lindo addressed the outburst at an after-party, saying that he and his Sinners co-star “did what we had to do” while onstage together, adding that he had hoped a BAFTA rep would have spoken to them after the incident.
Notably, the ceremony is reported to have been on a two-hour delay, raising questions about this particular moment not having been removed from the broadcast sooner. Per Deadline, among the edits that did show up on the initially released version of the ceremony was the removal of “Free Palestine” from Wale Davies and Akinola Davies Jr.’s acceptance speech.
