Jamie Foxx: BAFTAs Roiled by Tourette's Outburst, Broadcast Edits and a Cut Acceptance Line

Jamie Foxx unclear in the provided context — The awards ceremony night was overshadowed by a guest's involuntary outburst that included a racial slur while two Black actors were on stage, and by a separate broadcast edit that removed a political phrase from a winner's acceptance remarks. The broadcaster has apologised for the on-air failure to edit the slur and said it will remove the moment from its streaming version; the edits to the acceptance speech have prompted questions about editorial decisions and timing.

What happened on stage and on the broadcast

John Davidson, whose life story inspired the film I Swear, shouted the N-word while Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award. The context describes the shout both as occurring while they presented the first prize of the ceremony and as happening while the pair presented the award for best visual effects.

The moment remained in the broadcaster's television transmission, which had been shown on a two-hour delay, and it was still available on the broadcaster's streaming service on Monday morning before that version was removed. The shout was audible in the broadcast, although many viewers would have struggled to make out the word.

Jamie Foxx: editorial keyword note (unclear in the provided context)

Jamie Foxx unclear in the provided context. No factual details about Jamie Foxx are included in the provided account of events.

Statements, apologies and the broadcaster's explanation

The broadcaster apologised that the moment was not edited out prior to the transmission and said it will now remove the clip from its streaming version. Its statement acknowledged that some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the ceremony, and described the language as arising from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome that were not intentional. The broadcaster declined to comment further on why the material was not initially edited or bleeped out.

Separately, the awards body acknowledged the harm caused, said it would address what happened and offered an apology to all affected.

John Davidson, Tourette's context and reactions

John Davidson is a Tourette's campaigner from Galashiels in Scotland who was made an MBE in 2019. His involuntary tics could be heard several times during the ceremony; he shouted loudly several times before and during the event. He later said he was deeply mortified if anyone considers his involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning, and said he has spent his life supporting and empowering the Tourette's community and will continue to do so.

Tourette's is characterised by sudden, involuntary and repetitive movements or sounds known as tics. The provided context notes that between 10% and 30% of people with the condition have tics that produce socially unacceptable words such as swearing — a phenomenon known as coprolalia, cited by the Tourette's Action charity in the material supplied.

Presenters' and guests' responses

Delroy Lindo said he and Michael B. Jordan "did what we had to do" as they carried on presenting the category, but added that he wished someone from the awards body had spoken to them afterward. During an on-stage address earlier in the ceremony, host Alan Cumming explained that some strong language can be part of how Tourette's syndrome shows up for some people, and thanked the audience for understanding.

The context notes that Davidson appeared to remove himself from the theatre after the incident. Production designer Hannah Beachler posted on social media that the situation was almost impossible and that it happened three times that night, adding that one of the three instances was directed at her on the way to dinner after the show. Guests were reportedly talking about the incident at a dinner hosted by the awards body.

At an after-party, Lindo was said to be in good spirits and was seen chatting with his Sinners co-star Wunmi Mosaku, who won the award for best supporting actress. Michael B. Jordan attended an after-party hosted by lifestyle publications briefly and was listed as one of that event's hosts.

Edits to an acceptance speech and broadcaster timing

Filmmakers Wale Davies and Akinola Davies Jr. won the outstanding British debut award. Akinola Davies Jr. 's closing remarks dedicated the award to a range of migrants and those under occupation and concluded with a reference to "free Palestine. " That portion of his speech was removed from the television broadcast; the edit instead showed Davies Jr. thanking his family and his brother, Wale, for nurturing the project.

The broadcaster said the live event runs three hours and must be reduced to two for its on-air slot; it said the same timing edits affected other speeches and that all winners' speeches will be available to watch on the awards body's online channel. A trade publication revealed preparations had been made for politically charged speeches, with the broadcaster keen to avoid last year's national controversy when a streamed music act chanted "death to the IDF. "

Wider ceremony notes and awards detail

Robert Aramayo, star of I Swear, won the rising-star award and the lead-actor prize, prevailing over front-runners Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead-actor category. Ryan Coogler won best original screenplay and delivered a speech described as heartfelt about his community. These results formed part of a night that combined celebration with the debate and fallout described above.

Note: where the provided context left details unclear, that fact is stated rather than speculated upon.