The overseeing body of the annual BAFTA Awards says it is taking \u201cfull responsibility\u201d for the racist slur an audience member with Tourette syndrome shouted while \u201cSinners\u201d stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo took the stage at Sunday\u2019s ceremony. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation and we apologise to all,\u201d the British Academy of Film and Television Arts said in a statement<\/a> published Monday morning following widespread public outcry. \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Jordan and Lindo were presenters for the awards show, which aired after a two-hour delay on the BBC, and took the stage at London\u2019s Royal Festival Hall to present the visual effects category. Their segment was quickly interrupted when someone in the audience off-screen shouted the N-word. The co-stars, who are both Black, paused before their presentation. <\/p>\n Later in the program, BAFTA Awards host Alan Cumming addressed the outburst, referencing the nominated film \u201cI Swear,\u201d about Scottish Tourette syndrome campaigner John Davidson. Davidson, an executive producer for the BAFTA-nominated film, was in the audience and left his seat midway through the ceremony. <\/p>\n \u201cThe tics you have heard tonight are involuntary \u2014 that means the person who has Tourette syndrome has no control over their language and we apologize if it has caused offense,\u201d Cumming explained. <\/p>\n The Mayo Clinic<\/a> defines Tourette syndrome as a disorder that \u201cinvolves repetitive movements or unwanted sounds (tics) that can\u2019t be easily controlled.\u201d According to the Tourette Assn. of America,<\/a> some people who live with Tourette syndrome can also experience coprolalia, \u201can involuntary outburst of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks\u201d that do not necessarily reflect the person\u2019s \u201cthoughts, beliefs or opinions.\u201d <\/p>\n BAFTA echoed this sentiment in its statement and said it had made efforts to ensure attendees \u201cwere aware of the tics,\u201d informing audiences at the beginning of the show that Davidson was in the room and \u201cthey may hear strong language, involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony. <\/p>\n Concerning Davidson\u2019s use of the racist slur, BAFTA said \u201cwe apologise unreservedly to [Jordan and Lindo], and to all those impacted.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cWe would like to thank Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism,\u201d BAFTA said. <\/p>\n The organization also acknowledged Davidson who, after leaving the ceremony, watched the rest of the show from a screen. Actor Robert Aramayo, who portrays Davidson in \u201cI Swear,\u201d bested Hollywood favorites for the leading actor prize. <\/p>\n Though representatives for Jordan and Lindo did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday, the co-stars spoke to Vanity Fair<\/a> about the controversy. Lindo said he and his co-star \u201cdid what we had to do\u201d for the ceremony, but he added he wished \u201csomeone from BAFTA spoke to us afterward.\u201d<\/p>\n Davidson, in a statement<\/a> published by Deadline, said that while his tics and outbursts do not reflect his beliefs, he is always \u201cdeeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning.\u201d He did not directly mention Jordan or Lindo. <\/p>\n BBC apologized for not editing out the slur before broadcasting the ceremony, according to the Associated Press<\/a>. The network had managed to edit out other portions of the ceremony \u2014 including filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr. saying \u201cFree Palestine\u201d \u2014 but not the racist slur, \u201cGood Morning America\u201d reported<\/a>. The Guardian<\/a> reported that producers also failed to hear the inappropriate remark during the original taping. <\/p>\n BBC said Monday that it will edit out the slur. <\/p>\n The controversial BAFTA Awards moment spurred backlash and conversations about Tourette syndrome. On social media, \u201cSinners\u201d production designer Hannah Beachler alleged similar outbursts occurred three times through the course of the evening, once \u201cdirected at myself\u201d and another \u201cat a Black woman.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut what made the situation worse was the throw away apology of \u2018if you were offended at the end of the show,\u201d she posted on X<\/a>. \u201cOf course we were offended…but our frequency, our spiritual vibration is tuned to a higher level than what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n Also on X, journalist Jemele Hill<\/a>, \u201cSuperman\u201d actor Wendell Pierce and Black List founder Franklin Leonard<\/a> called out the expectation for Jordan and Lindo to carry on as normal after facing the racist slur, and the lack of immediate accountability from BAFTA. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s infuriating that the first reaction wasn\u2019t complete and full throatted [sic] apologies to Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan,\u201d Pierce tweeted<\/a>. \u201cThe insult to them takes priority. It doesn\u2019t matter the reasoning for the racist slur.\u201d<\/p>\n Jamie Foxx and \u201cThe Breakfast Club\u201d host Charlamagne tha God also shared their takes on Davidson\u2019s outbursts. Foxx alleged in a handful of Instagram comments<\/a> that Davidson\u2019s use of the racist slur was intentional. Charlamagne that God sought accountability from the teams behind Sunday\u2019s awards ceremony and speculated<\/a> that \u201csomebody somewhere taught [Davidson] the language.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just convenient he saved his most offensive outburst for Black people. OK?\u201d he said. \u201cI can be respectful of the condition but I don\u2019t respect none of y\u2019all that allowed him to be there with the condition.\u201d<\/p>\n The radio host added: \u201cJust because you have a disability does not mean we will tolerate the disrespect.\u201d <\/p>\n Tourettes Action, an organization and research charity based in the United Kingdom, addressed<\/a> the negative comments regarding Davidson\u2019s outbursts and called for understanding and education about Tourette Syndrome. <\/p>\n \u201cThe price of being misunderstood is increased isolation, risk of anxiety and depression and death by suicide,\u201d the organization said. \u201cWe hope that those commenting will take the time to watch the film, learn about Tourette\u2019s, and understand the experiences behind moments like these. Education is key, and compassion makes a world of difference.\u201d<\/p>\n