Jamie Foxx mention sits above BAFTAs row after Tourette's outburst and BBC edits
jamie foxx At the BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday a guest with Tourette’s syndrome shouted a racial slur while Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage, and the has apologised for not editing the remark out of its delayed broadcast.
Shout heard as Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented
John Davidson, whose life inspired the film I Swear, shouted the N-word as the Sinners stars Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented what was described in coverage as the first prize of Sunday’s ceremony, the award for best visual effects. Davidson’s involuntary tics could be heard several times before and during the ceremony.
Host addressed the audience after the outburst
The outburst followed an opening monologue from host Alan Cumming during which Davidson was involuntarily ticking; the audience had been informed of Davidson’s condition before the show began. Cumming then told the room: “You may have noticed some strong language in the background. This can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people as the film explores that experience. ” After the incident, Davidson appeared to remove himself from the theatre.
apologises and will remove the clip from iPlayer
The moment remained on One’s two-hour‑delayed broadcast and on iPlayer on Monday morning before the ceremony was removed. A spokesperson said: “We apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on iPlayer. ” The corporation also said: “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. ” The declined to comment further on why it had not initially edited or bleeped the clip.
Jamie Foxx appears in a subhead but the controversy focused on coverage choices
Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, said the had made “a horrible mistake” by not editing the slur out at the time and added: “I think an apology is important, they need to explain why it wasn't bleeped out. ” Lindo later said at an after-party that he and Jordan “did what we had to do” while presenting, and he wished “someone from Bafta spoke to us afterward. ” BAFTA said it acknowledged the “harm this has caused, address what happened and apologise to all. ”
Other speeches were edited; winners’ remarks to be posted online
The also trimmed winners’ speeches for time. Filmmakers Wale Davies and Akinola Davies Jr., who won the BAFTA for Outstanding British Debut, had a passage from Davies Jr. ’s acceptance cut from the broadcast. Davies Jr. had closed by dedicating the award to “all those whose parents migrated to obtain a better life for their children” and ended by saying, “for Nigeria, for London, the Congo, Sudan, free Palestine. ” The ’s edited version instead showed Davies Jr. thanking his family and his brother Wale “for nurturing this spark. ”
A spokesperson said the live event is three hours and “it has to be reduced to two hours for its on-air slot. The same happened to other speeches made during the night and all edits were made to ensure the programme was delivered to time. All winners’ speeches will be available to watch Bafta’s YouTube channel. ”
Reactions from the industry and links to the film I Swear
Sinners production designer Hannah Beachler wrote on X that the Davidson situation “is almost impossible…it happened 3 times that night, and one of the three times was directed at myself on the way to dinner after the show. ” Davidson, a Tourette’s campaigner from Galashiels in Scotland who was made an MBE in 2019, said he was “deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning. ” He added: “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. ”
The ceremony also handed other prizes: Robert Aramayo won the BAFTA Rising Star award and the lead-actor prize, beating front-runners Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio, while Wunmi Mosaku won best supporting actress. Ryan Coogler took best original screenplay and spoke about coming “from a community that loves me” and those who “made me believe that I could do this. ” A truncated name appears in coverage — “Prince Willi” — but that mention is unclear in the provided context.
The noted the slur was audible in the broadcast though many viewers would have struggled to make out the word. Tourette’s is characterised by sudden, involuntary and repetitive movements or sounds known as tics; Tourette’s Action states that between 10% and 30% of people with the condition have coprolalia, tics that produce socially unacceptable words such as swearing.
For now, officials say the immediate next steps are the ’s removal of the clip from iPlayer and BAFTA’s plan to make full winners’ speeches available online.
