BAFTA has launched a “comprehensive review” of its 2026 Film Awards ceremony, the British Academy has said in a letter to its members, after the N-word was shouted while Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were onstage.
The big news out of Sunday night was the outburst from Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson, who has said he is “deeply mortified” if anyone thought his tics were “intentional.” The I Swear executive producer has a neurological disability that causes involuntary verbal tics, such as loud swearing, and also said in his statement that he has campaigned for most of his life to bring awareness and education to Tourette’s. His life inspired I Swear, and members of the Tourette syndrome community got candid with The Hollywood Reporter about the widespread misunderstanding around the condition here.
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BAFTA released a full apology to the wider public on Monday explaining they apologized “unreservedly” to the Sinners actors, and thanking Davidson for making the decision to leave the ceremony halfway through.
THR understands that Warner Bros. executives immediately requested the slur not be broadcast on the BBC, which aired on a two-hour delay. Questions have arisen over the broadcaster’s decision to include the slur. They have since apologized and removed the ceremony from streaming service iPlayer. BAFTA jury member Jonte Richardson even announced his decision to quit his role after the “utterly unforgivable” handling of the incident by BAFTA and the BBC.
On Tuesday, a letter was sent to BAFTA members addressing the situation that arose, stating that they take the duty of care to all our guests “very seriously and prepared extensively in order for John to be able to be present in the room.”
“We made those in attendance aware of the tics, announcing to the audience before the ceremony began, and throughout, that John was in the room and that they may hear involuntary strong and offensive language, noises or movements during the ceremony,” BAFTA said in the letter, referring to the preshow warning and disclaimers from host Alan Cumming. “We fully understand our intention to be inclusive in no way diminishes the impact of what happened.”
“It was a very complex situation and we understand you will have many questions,” the letter concluded. “Please rest assured how seriously we are taking this.”
Read the letter to BAFTA members in full below.
We would like to address the situation that arose during the EE BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday night, in which highly offensive language that carries incomparable trauma and pain for so many was heard. We issued a statement last night, and we want members to hear from us directly, too. Please find our public statement here.
We recognise this has impacted members in a multitude of ways – we want to acknowledge the harm this has caused, address what happened and apologise to all.
One of our guests, John Davidson MBE has Tourette Syndrome and has devoted his life to educating and campaigning for better understanding of the condition. John is an executive producer of one of the nominated films, I Swear. The film highlights that Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disability that causes involuntary verbal tics, that the individual has no control over. Such tics are in no way a reflection of an individual’s beliefs and are not intentional.
We take the duty of care to all our guests very seriously and prepared extensively in order for John to be able to be present in the room. We made those in attendance aware of the tics, announcing to the audience before the ceremony began, and throughout, that John was in the room and that they may hear involuntary strong and offensive language, noises or movements during the ceremony. We fully understand our intention to be inclusive in no way diminishes the impact of what happened.
Early in the ceremony loud and involuntary tics, including one in the form of a profoundly offensive term, were heard by many people in the room. Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage at the time, and we have apologised unreservedly to them, and to all those impacted. We have also thanked Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism – and regret they were put in this position in the first place.
During the ceremony, John chose to leave the auditorium and watch the rest of the ceremony from a screen, and we have also thanked him for his dignity and consideration of others, on what should have been a night of celebration for him.
We are in contact with the studios involved and conversations are ongoing. We want to assure all our members that a comprehensive review is underway. You may have also seen the BBC have issued their own apology for the broadcast.
It was a very complex situation and we understand you will have many questions – please rest assured how seriously we are taking this. If you’d like to contact us, please email membership@bafta.org.
We take full responsibility for putting our guests and members of the academy in a very difficult situation and we will learn from this.
We will keep inclusion at the core of all we do, maintaining our belief in film and storytelling as a critical conduit for compassion and empathy – as firmly demonstrated by this year’s nominated and winning films.
