BBC apologises for ‘any offence caused’ by involuntary Tourette’s slur throughout Baftas
The BBC has issued an apology after a racial slur, shouted by an audience member with Tourette syndrome, was broadcast during the Baftas.
The incident occurred on Sunday (24 February) at London’s Royal Festival Hall as actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan presented the award for special visual effects.
A spokesperson for the BBC stated: “Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the Bafta Film Awards. This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and was not intentional. We apologise for any offence caused by the language heard.”
During the live broadcast, presenter Alan Cumming also addressed the issue, explaining the nature of Tourette syndrome. He said: “You may have heard some strong and offensive language tonight. If you have seen the film I Swear, you will know that film is about the experience of a person with Tourette syndrome.
“Tourette syndrome is a disability and the tics you have heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette syndrome has no control over their language. We apologise if you were offended.”
The film I Swear, which stars Robert Aramayo and chronicles the life of Scottish Tourette syndrome campaigner John Davidson, saw Aramayo win Best Actor and the EE Rising Star award, with the film also securing Best Casting.
At other points during the ceremony, Davidson could be heard shouting words such as “boring” and “f***”, with many of these interruptions audible on television.
Later in the ceremony, Cumming briefly paused proceedings to apologise and thank the audience for their understanding.
The actor acknowledged that the audience “may have noticed” some “strong language” and thanked the crowd for their understanding and for creating a “respectful space for everyone”. Stressing that the tics are involuntary, he said: “We apologise if you were offended.”
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One incident saw Davidson shout the N-word while Sinners stars Jordan and Lindo were on stage presenting an award.
Davidson exited the venue at one point during the ceremony but returned in time for Aramayo’s Best Actor win.
Speaking on Times Radio, Ed Palmer, vice chairman of Tourettes Action said the BBC should have considered bleeping out the slur. He said: “This is really one of the most acute examples of where something that is a disability can cause quite understandably huge amounts of offence to someone.
“So, if it’s being pre-recorded now, then bleeping it out, for example, might be a reasonable compromise. But I think it has to be taken on a case-by-case kind of decision and scenario.“
He said he is “very, very mindful of the people that would have quite understandably been hugely offended by whatever word was said, or an offensive word that’s used by somebody with tics and Tourettes”, adding that he thought “it is important to show compassion and understand that it is involuntary”.
“Causing offence is often very distressing to people who have this condition,” Palmer said.
Davidson is a vocal ambassador for Tourette’s, and was awarded an MBE in 2019 for his work educating the UK about the disability since he first exhibited symptoms as a teenager. His struggle was documented in the 1989 BBC documentary John’s Not Mad.
While those at the event were informed about Davidson’s Tourette’s by a compere ahead of broadcast, this did not make it into the broadcast, leaving viewers at home initially confused by the disturbances.
Tourette’s is a neurological condition characterised by motor and vocal “tics”, such as coughs, twitches, and fully articulated phrases.
A small number of people with Tourette’s also experience something called coprolalia, which involves involuntary cursing or making socially inappropriate remarks.
The words are not chosen for meaning in the moment. The person who says it usually experiences the outbursts as unwanted and distressing. Researchers class it as a complex vocal tic not as intentional speech. It is not a conscious decision. Read more about it here.
Elsewhere at the ceremony, director Ryan Coogler made history as the first black winner of the Bafta for best original screenplay for his film Sinners, which also earned awards for best supporting actress for Wunmi Mosaku and original score.
Bafta, Tourette Scotland, Lindo, and Jordan have all been approached for comment regarding the incident.
