The BBC has released a detailed report outlining the events that led to the racial slur incident at the BAFTA Film Awards. In the document, BBC Director-General Tim Davie acknowledged that the network failed to edit out the moment when Tourette’s advocate John Davidson shouted the N-word at Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo while they were on stage. Davidson has previously spoken about the incident, but now the BBC states it is taking full responsibility for allowing the clip to remain on the streaming service iPlayer for hours after it aired.
RELATED: Delroy Lindo Addresses BAFTA Incident At NAACP Image Awards After John Davidson Speaks Out (VIDEOS)
BBC Acknowledges Failure To Remove Racial Slur Incident At BAFTA Awards
In a recent report, BBC Director Tim Davie expressed that the network “profoundly regrets” what occurred and explained that the team did not catch it during editing and did not intentionally leave it in.
“Our initial evidence gathering has found that no one in the on-site broadcast truck heard this while they were watching the live feed. Because no one in the broadcast truck was aware it was on the live feed, there was therefore no editorial decision made to leave the language in,” Tim Davie stated in a letter to Dame Caroline Dinenage, chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
BBC’s chief content officer Kate Phillips previously apologized and informed staff that production caught a second racial slur and edited it out of the broadcast. Davie confirmed that John Davidson shouted this second slur within 10 minutes of the first, while ‘Sinners’ star Wunmi Wosaku accepted the Best Supporting Actress award.
“In that instance, the edit team did hear the racial slur on the feed and removed it immediately from the version of the ceremony that would be broadcast later that evening.”
Tim Davie explained that the BBC believes the editing team was confused, thinking they had cut out the incident being referenced, but they actually removed the slur Davidson shouted while Wunmi Wosaku was accepting her award for Best Supporting Actress.
John Davidson Responds After BAFTA Incident Sparks Outrage
Shortly after the BAFTA incident gained attention online, John Davidson issued a statement. He clarified that his tics are involuntary and expressed feeling “deeply mortified” that anyone thought he acted with intent.
“I was in attendance to celebrate the film of my life, I Swear, which, more than any film or TV documentary, explains the origins, condition, traits, and manifestations of Tourette Syndrome,” John Davidson reportedly stated. He added, “I have spent my life trying to support and empower the Tourette’s community and to teach empathy, kindness, and understanding from others, and I will continue to do so.”
‘Sinners’ Actor Delroy Lindo Discusses BAFTA Slur At NAACP Image Awards
Delroy Lindo addressed the situation himself while on stage with ‘Sinners’ director Ryan Coogler at the NAACP Image Awards on February 28. He thanked fans for their support and expressed how meaningful it was to see so many speaking out.
“It means a lot to us. It is an honor to be here amongst our people this evening. Among so many people who have shown us such incredible support. And it’s a classic case of something that could be very negative becoming very positive.”
RELATED: Tourette’s Advocate John Davidson Breaks His Silence After Shouting N-Word During BAFTA Awards (UPDATE)
