2026 Bafta Awards Racial Slur Incident And Bbc Investigation

The BAFTA Awards ceremony on February 25, 2026, turned controversial when a racial slur was aired live, leading to widespread backlash and investigations. The incident occurred when John Davidson, a Tourette's syndrome sufferer, involuntarily shouted the N-word while actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan were presenting an award. Davidson expressed his deep mortification, stating, "I feel that they should have been aware of what to expect from Tourette's, and worked harder to prevent anything that I said ... from being included in the broadcast," according to Tribune Latest. The BBC's Director-General, Tim Davie, has ordered a fast-tracked investigation into the incident, highlighting that it was a "serious mistake" that should not have been aired despite a two-hour delay between filming and broadcast. Warner Bros reportedly raised concerns immediately after the incident, yet the slur remained in the broadcast, which has drawn criticism from various quarters, including the public and media outlets.