The BBC just dropped a detailed report breaking down the events that led up to the racial slur incident at the BAFTA Film Awards. In the document, BBC Director-General Tim Davie admitted the network failed to edit out the moment when Tourette’s advocate John Davidson shouted the N-word at Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo while they stood on stage. Davidson has already spoken about the moment, but now the BBC says it’s taking full accountability for letting the clip remain on the streaming service iPlayer hours after it aired.
RELATED: Delroy Lindo Addresses BAFTA Incident At NAACP Image Awards After John Davidson Speaks Out (VIDEOS)
BBC Admits It Failed To Cut Out Racial Slur Incident At BAFTA Awards
In a new report, BBC Director Tim Davie said the network “profoundly regrets” what happened and explained that the team didn’t catch it during editing and didn’t leave it in on purpose.
“Our initial evidence gathering has found that no one in the on-site broadcast truck heard this when they were watching the live feed. Because no-one in the broadcast truck was aware it was on the live feed, there was therefore no editorial decision made to leave the language in,” Tim Davie said in a letter to Dame Caroline Dinenage, the chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
BBC’s chief content officer, Kate Phillips, previously apologized and told staff that production had caught a second racial slur and edited it out of the broadcast. Davie confirmed that John Davidson shouted the second slur within 10 minutes of the first, while ‘Sinners’ star, Wunmi Wosaku, accepted the Best Supporting Actress award.
“In that instance, the edit team did hear the racial slur on the feed and removed it immediately from the version of the ceremony that would be broadcast later that evening.”
Tim Davie explained that the BBC thinks the editing team was confused, thinking they had cut the incident being referenced, but they actually removed the slur Davidson shouted while Wunmi Wosaku was accepting the Best Supporting Actress award.
John Davidson Speaks Out After BAFTA Incident Sparks Outrage
Shortly after the BAFTA incident blew up online, John Davidson spoke out in a statement. He explained that his tics are involuntary and said he feels “deeply mortified” that anyone thought he acted intentionally.
“I was in attendance to celebrate the film of my life, I Swear, which, more than any film or TV documentary, explains the origins, condition, traits, and manifestations of Tourette Syndrome,” John Davidson reportedly said in the statement. He added, “I have spent my life trying to support and empower the Tourette’s community and to teach empathy, kindness, and understanding from others, and I will continue to do so.”
‘Sinners’ Actor Delroy Lindo Addresses BAFTA Slur At NAACP Image Awards
Delroy Lindo addressed the situation himself while on stage with ‘Sinners’ director, Ryan Coogler, at the NAACP Image Awards on February 28. He thanked fans for their support and said it meant a lot to see so many speaking out.
“It means a lot to us. It is an honor to be here amongst our people this evening. Among so many people who have shown us such incredible support. And it’s a classic case of something that could be very negative becoming very positive.”
