Another Racial Slur Was Removed From BAFTAs Ceremony

More details continue to come to light about the racial slur controversy at the 2026 BAFTAs, which has since dampened what was meant to be a night of celebration.

While Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award on stage, Tourette’s syndrome campaigner John Davidson hurled the expletive “N-word” at the actors.

As the BAFTAs and BBC continue to receive backlash for airing such offensive statements, insiders say the network managed to catch one slur earlier in the ceremony.

In an email memo from Kate Phillips, the Chief Content Officer for BBC, it was alleged that staff members tried their best to evade drama.

While apologizing to employees that Johnson’s racial slur wasn’t edited out of the broadcast, Phillips showered praise on the editors, noting that they “removed another racial slur from the broadcast.”

In her apology, the CCO noted that the network took responsibility for how “distressing” the incident was.

“Award attendees were pre-warned about the possibility of involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome at the start of the show, and Alan Cumming addressed it during the broadcast. Of course, this doesn’t lessen the impact and upset,” it read, per TMZ.

Although the BBC has since taken down the original broadcast, the network, in a statement to the general public, explained “it was not intentional” and apologized for “any offence caused.”

John Davidson has also broken his silence on the incident, offering an apology in a statement that sheds light on the ugly side of Tourette’s.

The activist began by thanking the award ceremony for creating awareness about his condition. “I appreciated the announcement to the auditorium in advance of the recording, warning everyone that my tics are involuntary and are not a reflection of my personal beliefs,” he wrote.

Nevertheless, Davidson admitted his outburst was far from intentional, as reported by The Blast. In his words:

“In addition to the announcement by Alan Cumming, the BBC and BAFTA, I can only add that I am, and always have been, deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning.”

Davidson, who attended the BAFTAs for his film “I Swear,” suffers from Tourette’s syndrome, a neurological disorder that causes repetitive movements or unwanted sounds, called tics, that can’t be easily controlled.

The filmmaker also has coprolalia, a condition that involves the outburst of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks.

Such was the case in 2019 when Davidson shouted “f-ck the Queen” at Queen Elizabeth II while being awarded his MBE.

Although Jordan is yet to break his silence on the controversy, insiders say the slur left an emotional toll on the actor.

“Michael had to do extensive research into the horrific psychological effects of racism to prepare for ‘Sinners,’ so he was disgusted, repulsed, and grossed out by John’s outburst,” the source explained.

It is no news that Jordan played the double role of twin brothers Smoke and Stack in the racially inspired horror film set in 1932, Mississippi.

As a result, the incident at the BAFTAs further informed Jordan of “how much work has to be done to drive racism underground.”

The source also added that the actor was already having a bad day due to an “upsetting incident” in Atlanta, making Johnson’s outburst feel “worse.”

Although Jordan’s family wasn’t in attendance at the award ceremony, they weren’t spared the disgrace after watching it on air.

According to The Blast, his parents were left shattered after witnessing what Jordan and Lindo endured.