BBC boss apologises to staff over failure to edit out racial slur at Baftas

A senior BBC executive has apologised to staff, saying the corporation understands “how distressing” it was that a racial slur shouted during an appearance by Sinners stars Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo at the Bafta film awards was not edited out of the broadcast.

Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson could be heard shouting as the black Hollywood stars presented the award for special visual effects during the ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday.

Film studio Warner Bros is also believed to have raised immediate concerns about the racial slur and requested it be removed from the BBC broadcast, the Press Association understands.

In a note sent to staff on Tuesday, seen by the Press Association, the corporation’s chief content officer Kate Phillips said the slur was “aired in error” and “we would never have knowingly allowed this to be broadcast”.

The note said: “I wanted to write to you following Sunday’s Bafta Film Awards.

“I’m so sorry that a racial slur was not edited out of our broadcast. We understand how distressing this was.

“Award attendees were pre-warned about the possibility of involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette Syndrome at the start of the show, and Alan Cumming addressed it during the broadcast. Of course, this doesn’t lessen the impact and upset.

“The edit team removed another racial slur from the broadcast. This one was aired in error and we would never have knowingly allowed this to be broadcast.

“We take full responsibility for what happened. When I was made aware it was audible on iPlayer, I asked for it to be taken down. As I’m sure you’re aware, we put out a statement yesterday morning apologising that the remark was not edited out prior to broadcast.

“I wrote to our Embrace network colleagues yesterday and am grateful for their thoughtful responses to me. Please know that you can reach out to me, or to any member of our ExCo team, if you’d like to talk further about this.”

Her note ended saying: “Again, I am so very sorry for the distress caused.”

On Monday night, Davidson said he was “deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning”, as questions were raised about how the incident was handled on the night and why it was left in the broadcast, which aired two hours later.

Labour MP Dawn Butler has accused the BBC of “an obvious bias” and a “failure of duty of care”.

The MP for Brent Central said the slur “should never have been aired” and described its broadcast as “painful and unforgivable”.

She has also written to outgoing director-general Tim Davie asking for an explanation on why it was left in.

It is understood people from Warner Bros, the film studio behind Sinners, spoke directly with Bafta staff following the incident during the ceremony and requested it be removed from the broadcast, which aired on the BBC later that night.

It is also understood Warner Bros representatives were reassured this request would be passed on and Bafta was in touch with the studio throughout the evening.

Warner Bros, the BBC, production company Penny Lane and Bafta have been contacted for comment.

Meanwhile, film-maker Jonte Richardson has said he is stepping down as a Bafta judge over the academy’s handling of the incident.

In a statement on LinkedIn, Richardson said he felt “compelled to withdraw from the Bafta emerging talent judging panel”.

He added: “The organisation’s handling of the unfortunate Tourette’s N-word incident last night at the awards was utterly unforgivable. I hope Bafta leadership comprehend the damage they and the BBC have caused, and take the necessary steps to ensure their production staff are inclusive enough to prevent such an issue in the future.”

Richardson, who is a champion of diverse voices in the industry, is a director, writer, producer and editor who has worked in both the UK and the US on projects including Channel 4’s Bluefinch and award-winning productions for BET and HBO.

During the broadcast, the awards ceremony’s presenter Cumming apologised for the language viewers may have heard.

Bafta apologised for the incident on Monday night and said it takes “full responsibility” for putting its guests in a “difficult situation”.

Bafta also apologised “unreservedly” to Jordan and Lindo, and “to all those impacted”, adding: “We would like to thank Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism.”

The statement continued: “We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation and we apologise to all.

“We will learn from this and keep inclusion at the core of all we do, maintaining our belief in film and storytelling as a critical conduit for compassion and empathy.”

The BBC apologised for not editing the racial slur out of the broadcast and a spokesperson for the corporation said on Monday: “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 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.”

In a statement to the Press Association, Davidson said he chose to leave the auditorium early as he was “aware of the distress my tics were causing”.

Davidson was at the Baftas representing the film, I Swear, which tells the story of the Scottish campaigner’s life with the condition, which he developed when he was 12.

It stars Robert Aramayo, who won best actor for his performance in the film, which also won best casting. He was also named EE Rising Star.