Marlene Lenthang is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
The BBC apologized Sunday for the “strong and offensive language” that was shouted during the taping of the British Academy Film Awards after a clip of an attendee yelling a racial slur at Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo sparked outrage online.
Jordan and Lindo, the stars of “Sinners,” were onstage in London to present the first award of the night, for best visual effects, at the 79th annual awards show, which took place Sunday and aired on the BBC. The actors, who are Black, appeared to pause for a beat after the “N-word” was yelled at them, then continued their presentation. Representatives for the BAFTAs, Jordan and Lindo did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A representative for Versant, which owns E!, did not immediately respond to inquiries before and after its telecast about the slur. A spokesperson for the BBC attributed the language outbursts to an attendee with Tourette syndrome, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines as “a condition of the nervous system that causes people to make sudden and repeated twitches, movements, or sounds, called ‘tics.’” “Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards 2026,” the spokesperson said in an email statement to NBC News. “This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and was not intentional. We apologise for any offence caused by the language heard.” Variety, which was in the room at London’s Royal Festival Hall as the show was being recorded, reported that the remark as Jordan and Lindo were presenting was not the only outburst. Someone purportedly shouted “shut the f--- up” as BAFTA chair Sara Putt gave an introductory speech and “f--- you” when the award for best children’s and family film was being accepted, Variety reported. The publication identified the person who yelled the N-word as Tourette syndrome campaigner John Davidson. He was there with the nominated film “I Swear,” which follows the story of his Tourette syndrome diagnosis, his struggles and his journey to raise public awareness. The title is a nod to his uncontrollable swearing associated with the syndrome. NBC News was unable to confirm whether it was Davidson. The BBC did not respond to a follow-up request about who yelled the slur. The film, which received critical acclaim in the U.K. — with Robert Aramayo snagging a win in the best actor category Sunday — is not headed to U.S. theaters until spring. Sony Pictures Classics, which picked up the distribution rights, says on its website that the movie will roll out on April 24. BAFTAs host Alan Cumming acknowledged the “strong and offensive language” that was yelled during the show, including once after Aramayo’s win. “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,” Cumming told the audience. “Tourette syndrome is a disability, and the tics you’ve heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette syndrome has no control over their language. We apologize if you were offended.” The film’s director, Kirk Jones, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Representatives for Sony Pictures Classic and Bankside Films, which distributed the movie in the U.K., also did not immediately respond to requests for comment. NBC News did not immediately hear back to a message sent to Davidson’s personal Instagram account. This year’s BAFTAs also marked a historic moment for “Sinners” director Ryan Coogler, who became the first Black man to win best original screenplay. The vampire thriller won three awards in all.
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