A racial slur was audible during Sunday night’s BAFTA Awards ceremony after John Davidson, a guest with Tourette’s syndrome and the inspiration for the film I Swear, shouted the N-word whereas presenters Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were onstage. The outburst occurred as the Sinners actors were presenting the award for best visual effects, following a period during which Davidson had been exhibiting involuntary tics throughout the opening monologue.
Host Alan Cumming addressed the incident from the stage, stating, “You may have noticed some strong language in the background. This can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people as the film explores that experience,” and asked for “understanding” from the audience. Davidson subsequently left the auditorium to watch the remainder of the ceremony in a separate room.
Following the broadcast, the BBC issued an apology for failing to edit out the slur, according to reports. However, the BBC did reportedly censor another moment during the live broadcast, cutting off winner Akinola Davies Jr.’s statement of “free Palestine” at the conclusion of his acceptance speech, as reported by Deadline.
Delroy Lindo indicated that he and Jordan continued with their presenting duties despite the interruption. Speaking with Vanity Fair at Warner Brothers’ afterparty, Lindo said, “We did what we had to do,” but as well expressed a desire for direct communication from BAFTA officials, stating, “I wish someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterwards.”
The incident extended beyond the live ceremony. Production designer Hannah Beachler posted on X (formerly Twitter) that she was directly targeted with a similar outburst by Davidson on the way to dinner after the show, stating the incident occurred three times that evening.
Despite the disruption, Lindo appeared in good spirits at the afterparty, engaging in conversation with his Sinners costar Wunmi Mosaku, who had won the BAFTA for best supporting actress. Michael B. Jordan briefly attended an afterparty hosted by British GQ and Vogue.
The incident was the primary topic of conversation at a BAFTA nominees and guests dinner held after the ceremony. While attendees acknowledged Davidson’s Tourette’s syndrome and its connection to the film I Swear – whose star, Richard Aramayo, won both the BAFTA Rising Star Award and the lead actor prize – many were still visibly shaken by the outburst. Jordan was reportedly startled by the shout, and audience members audibly gasped.
The awards also saw Ryan Coogler win best screenplay, delivering a speech emphasizing the importance of community support, stating, “I come from a community that loves me and spoke a lot of power into me. They made me believe that I could do this. That I could be a writer.” Dame Donna Langley, chairwoman of Universal Pictures, received the BAFTA Fellowship Award, presented by Prince William and Kate Middleton in their first public appearance since reports of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s arrest in connection with Jeffrey Epstein surfaced.