The BBC has apologized for not editing out a racial slur from its Bafta Film Awards coverage after a guest with Tourette’s syndrome shouted out when two black actors were on stage.
John Davidson, whose life story inspired the film I Swear, shouted the N-word as Sinners stars Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the first prize of Sunday’s ceremony.
The moment was not edited out of the BBC One broadcast, which was shown on a two-hour delay, and remained on BBC iPlayer on Monday morning before being removed.
A BBC spokesperson said: “We apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer.”
The shout was audible in the broadcast, although many viewers would have struggled to make out the word.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch told Good Morning Britain the BBC had made “a horrible mistake” by not editing it out at the time, adding: “I think an apology is important, they need to explain why it wasn’t bleeped out.”
In its statement, the BBC 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.”
