BBC apologises for airing ‘involuntary’ racial slur shouted by guest with Tourette’s at BAFTA
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(From left) Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson and his friend Dottie Achenbach, as well as British actor Robert Aramayo - who won the BAFTA best actor prize for portraying a man inspired by Davidson in the film I Swear - attend the BAFTA Film Awards Nominees' Party in London on Feb 21, 2026.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – The BBC apologised on Feb 23 for not editing out a racial slur during the BAFTA awards, saying it was an “involuntary” verbal tic by a Tourette’s sufferer who inspired a film that won at the ceremony.
British actor Robert Aramayo triumphed over established stars Timothee Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio to win the best actor prize for his portrayal of a man with Tourette’s syndrome in the film I Swear.
The film was inspired by the real-life story of Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson, whose life has been irrevocably changed by the condition.
Mr Davidson shouted the N-word as Sinners film actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan, who are both black, presented the award for special visual effects.
Actor Alan Cumming, the ceremony’s host, apologised for the language viewers may have heard during the broadcast.
But the BBC did not edit the offending language out of its broadcast, which was shown on a two-hour delay on the evening of Feb 22. It was edited out of the version on the BBC’s streaming service on the morning of Feb 23.
“Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA film awards,” a BBC spokesperson said.
“This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony, it was not intentional.
“We apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast, and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer.”
A spokesperson for the charity Tourettes Action said it “deeply” understood the offence and harm caused by racial slurs.
But the spokesperson said it was “vital that the public understands a fundamental truth about Tourette syndrome – tics are involuntary. They are not a reflection of a person’s beliefs, intentions or character.
“People with Tourette’s can say words or phrases they do not mean, do not endorse and feel great distress about afterwards,” the spokesperson added.
The charity added it was “incredibly proud” of Mr Davidson and others involved in the film. AFP
