A racial slur directed at actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo during the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) ceremony on February 22nd has ignited criticism of the awards body’s response, with Lindo publicly stating he and Jordan did not receive direct communication from BAFTA following the incident. The outburst occurred as the two actors were presenting the award for best visual effects at London’s Royal Festival Hall.
The slur was shouted by a member of the audience identified as John Davidson, an executive producer of the BAFTA-nominated film I Swear. Davidson has Tourette syndrome, which causes involuntary verbal tics, including the utterance of offensive language. BAFTA had announced to the audience before the ceremony, and intermittently throughout, that Davidson was present and that involuntary outbursts were possible.
Despite this prior notification, Delroy Lindo expressed disappointment that BAFTA did not reach out to him or Jordan after the incident. “I wish someone from Bafta had spoken to us afterwards,” Lindo told Vanity Fair, according to reports. This lack of direct engagement has fueled accusations that BAFTA prioritized managing the situation surrounding Davidson’s condition over addressing the harm caused by the racial slur.
BAFTA released a statement acknowledging the harm caused by the offensive language. The statement explained Davidson’s condition and emphasized that his tics are not indicative of his beliefs. “We take the duty of care to all our guests very seriously and start from a position of inclusion,” the statement read. But, the initial response did not directly address the impact on Jordan, and Lindo.
The BBC, which broadcast the awards, also issued an apology for not editing out the slur, which aired on a two-hour delay and remained available on its streaming service for a period. The BBC stated that although a shout was audible, the specific word was difficult to discern, but acknowledged the offense it caused.
Davidson himself issued an apology, expressing remorse for the distress caused to Jordan and Lindo. The incident has sparked a wider debate about the balance between accommodating individuals with disabilities and condemning racist language. Some commentators have argued that while Davidson’s condition explains the outburst, it does not excuse the harm caused by the slur.
BAFTA subsequently issued a further statement taking “full responsibility” for the situation and apologizing to Jordan and Lindo. The organization pledged to learn from the incident and maintain a commitment to inclusion. “We will learn from this, and maintain inclusion at the core of all we do, maintaining our belief in film and storytelling as a critical conduit for compassion and empathy,” BAFTA stated.
As of Sunday, March 1, 2026, BAFTA has not announced any specific changes to its protocols for handling similar situations in the future, and neither Jordan nor Lindo have made further public statements regarding the incident or BAFTA’s response.
