Los Angeles, Feb 24 (.) The British Academy has issued a formal apology following controversy at Sunday night’s BAFTA Film Awards, where Tourette’s syndrome campaigner John Davidson made several offensive remarks during the ceremony, Variety reported.
Among the involuntary outbursts linked to his condition was the N-word, shouted as Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the award for Best Visual Effects to ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’.
In a statement released, British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) said it took “full responsibility” for placing its “guests in a very difficult situation and we apologise to all.” The organization added that it wanted to “apologise unreservedly” to Jordan and Lindo, thanking them for their “incredible dignity and professionalism.”
The incident was acknowledged during the ceremony by host Alan Cumming, who thanked the audience for its “understanding” regarding Davidson’s disability and apologized in case anyone had been offended. The remark later drew criticism online, including from Hannah Beachler, who described the apology as “throwaway” in a post on X.
Davidson exited the ceremony midway through the event. However, controversy intensified after the BBC included the racial slur in its tape-delayed broadcast. The network later apologized and removed the program from its iPlayer streaming platform, according to Variety.
In its latest statement, BAFTA also commended Davidson for stepping away from the ceremony, thanking him for his “dignity and consideration of others, on what should have been a night of celebration for him.”
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