BAFTA has apologized to the disabled and Black communities after it published an independent review of a racial slur said at its February 2026 Film Awards ceremony.
The report made the organization wake up and realize it didn’t have what it took to handle what happened.
The incident saw John Davidson, a Tourette syndrome activist and inspiration for the film I Swear, involuntarily shout a racial slur while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage to present the first award of the evening. BAFTA and the BBC clarified that the slur was an involuntary verbal tic, known as coprolalia, associated with Tourette syndrome. It was not intentional or reflective of Davidson’s beliefs.
The fallout was immediate and intense. An intense wave of anger followed, much of it directed at the BBC after it aired an edited version of the ceremony. One that failed to cut out the racial slur despite having a two-hour delay. The BBC has also been widely criticized for leaving up a version of the ceremony on iPlayer where the racial slur was audible for 15 hours before it was taken down.
BAFTA’s Review
An independent review, carried out by RISE Associates, didn’t hold back. The review focused on how BAFTA had not appreciated the “nature of the risk associated with a live broadcast appearance.” That early warning signs were not escalated, and that the absence of a clear operational command structure limited BAFTA’s ability to respond effectively.
The BAFTA board of trustees stated: “We did not adequately anticipate or fully prepare for the impact of such an incident in a live event environment and as a result our duty of care to everyone at the ceremony and watching at home fell short.”
The review “did not find evidence of malicious intent on the part of those involved in delivering the event” and said the event was not evidence of “institutional racism.”
BAFTA said it “apologizes unreservedly” to both the Black community, “for whom the racist language used carries real pain, brutality, and trauma.” To the disabled community, “including people with Tourette Syndrome, for whom this incident has led to unfair judgement, stigma, and distress,” alongside its members, guests at the ceremony, and those watching on TV.
On the BBC‘s side, an investigation by the BBC’s executive complaints unit found the inclusion of the slur was “highly offensive” and “had no editorial justification,” but added that broadcasting it was unintentional.
In the future, BAFTA’s corrective actions include better escalation practices, better planning for access, inclusion and support at events, and closing out internal cultural gaps. The BBC has pledged to learn from its mistakes, and agreed to measures to improve its approach to event planning, live production, and iPlayer takedowns.
The next big BAFTA test comes in a few weeks with the TV Awards, which also air on BBC One and iPlayer. All eyes will be watching closely.
