{"id":2572690,"date":"2026-02-23T16:18:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T21:18:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bbc-apologizes-after-man-with-tourette-syndrome-screams-racial-slur-at-black-presenters-during-bafta-awards\/"},"modified":"2026-02-23T16:20:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T21:20:08","slug":"bbc-apologizes-after-man-with-tourette-syndrome-screams-racial-slur-at-black-presenters-during-bafta-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bbc-apologizes-after-man-with-tourette-syndrome-screams-racial-slur-at-black-presenters-during-bafta-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"BBC Apologizes After Man with Tourette Syndrome Screams Racial Slur at Black Presenters During BAFTA Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbbc-apologizes-after-man-with-tourette-syndrome-screams-racial-slur-at-black-presenters-during-bafta-awards%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2572690&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Controversy overshadowed the BAFTA Film Awards 2026 when John Davidson, a Tourette\u2019s syndrome campaigner, shouted the N-word during a presentation by Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo for Best Visual Effects. NBC News reported that the slur was not cut from the broadcast, while the BBC saeid the incident arose from involuntary tics linked to Tourette\u2019s and apologized for the offense. Host Alan Cumming addressed the crowd and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-unveils-plans-for-independence-arch-at-dc-donor-dinner\/\" title=\"Trump unveils plans for &#039;Independence Arch&#039; at DC donor dinner\">thanked attendees<\/a> for their understanding as the situation was explained. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >episode sparked intense social-media<\/a> and press attention, with coverage from Variety and others, and highlighted the tension between raising awareness about Tourette\u2019s and maintaining a respectful, inclusive event.The article also ties in the film I Swear, which explores Tourette\u2019s; comments from Hannah Beachler and other figures underscored the need for sensitivity and appropriate responses to such outbursts.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Controversy took over at a British film awards event after outbursts &mdash; including the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/left-tries-to-snare-conservative-media-figure-in-ridiculous-<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kimberly-klacik-addresses-the-n-word-cancel-culture\/\" title=\"Kimberly Klacik Addresses The N-Word &amp; Cancel Culture\">n-word<\/a>-scandal-over-megyn-kelly-show-blunder\/&#8221; title=&#8221;Left Tries to Snare Conservative Media Figure in \u2018Ridiculous&#039; &#8230; Scandal Over &#039;Megyn Kelly Show\u2019 Blunder&#8221;>n-word &#038;mdash<\/a>; interrupted two black presenters on stage.<\/p>\n<p>The slur took place while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo, who starred in &ldquo;Sinners,&rdquo; were presenting the award for best visual effects. It was not cut from the broadcast, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/pop-culture\/pop-culture-news\/bbc-says-racial-slur-shouted-sinners-actors-baftas-was-result-tourette-rcna260182\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NBC News.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards 2026,&rdquo; a BBC representative said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and was not intentional. We apologize for any [offense] caused by the language heard,&rdquo; the BBC said.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BAFTAFilmAwards?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#BAFTAFilmAwards<\/a> host Alan Cumming thanked the audience for their &ldquo;understanding&rdquo; after a series of audible outbursts from Tourette&rsquo;s campaigner John Davidson interrupted the ceremony.<\/p>\n<p>&bull; One incident saw Davidson shout the n-word while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Spk5MlExxV\">pic.twitter.com\/Spk5MlExxV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Variety (@Variety) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Variety\/status\/2025653466622722498?\">February 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"anyclipvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadAnyclip() { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst container=document.getElementById(\"anyclipvideo\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!container) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=\"https:\/\/player.anyclip.com\/anyclip-widget\/lre-widget\/prod\/v1\/src\/lre.js\"; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.setAttribute(\"pubname\", \"westernjournalcom\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.setAttribute(\"widgetname\", \"001w000001jULVcAAO_M12924\");  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ append inside the container so player shows in correct spot \t\t\t\t\t\tcontainer.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadAnyclip(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #anyclipvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#anyclipvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  The outbursts appeared to come from John Davidson, whose life was the inspiration for the film &ldquo;I Swear.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The movie explores Davidson&rsquo;s diagnosis of Tourette syndrome and his efforts to increase awareness of the syndrome, one symptom of which is uncontrollable swearing.<\/p>\n<p>As reported by <a href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/awards\/alan-cumming-john-davidson-i-swear-outbursts-1236669691\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Variety<\/a>, Davidson dropped other f-bombs during the event.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;You may have noticed some strong language in the background. This can be part of how Tourette&rsquo;s syndrome shows up for some people as the film explores that experience,&rdquo; event host Alan Cumming told the crowd.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Cumming added one more explanation.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If you have seen the film &lsquo;I Swear,&rsquo; you will know that film is about the experience of a person with Tourette syndrome. Tourette&rsquo;s syndrome is a disability, and the tics you&rsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/paul-manafort-trump-raid-is-a-fishing-expedition-theyre-afraid-of-him-politically-still\/\" title=\"Paul Manafort: Trump Raid is a \u201cFishing Expedition\u201d, \u201cThey\u2019re Afraid of Him Politically Still\u201d\">ve heard tonight<\/a> are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette&rsquo;s syndrome has no control over their language. We apologize if you were offended.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Tourette Syndrome activist John Davidson was heard shouting the N-word during Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo&rsquo;s presentation at the BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>&#127909; BAFTA Awards <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/VIQveFhVvQ\">pic.twitter.com\/VIQveFhVvQ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; TMZ (@TMZ) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TMZ\/status\/2025780446605500472?\">February 23, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  Hannah Beachler, the production designer for &ldquo;Sinners,&rdquo; was not appeased.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I keep trying to write about what happened at the BAFTAs, and I can&rsquo;t find the words. The situation is almost impossible, but it happened 3 times that night, and one of the three times was directed at myself on the way to dinner after the show,&rdquo; she wrote in a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/HannahEBeachler\/status\/2025804402116989285\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">post<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;And a third time at a Black woman. I understand and deeply know why this is an impossible situation. I know we must handle this with grace and continue to push through. But what made the situation worse was the throw away apology of &lsquo;if you were offended,&rsquo;&rdquo; she <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/HannahEBeachler\/status\/2025804405950628048\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wrote on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Of course we were offended &hellip; but our frequency, our spiritual vibration is tuned to a higher level than what happened. I am not [steel], this did not bounce off of me, but I exist above it. It can&rsquo;t take away from who I am as an artist,&rdquo; she wrote.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A controversy erupted at the BAFTA Film Awards 2026 after a series of audible outbursts, including the N-word, interrupted two Black presenters (Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo) as they announced the best visual effects award. The moment was not edited out of NBC\u2019s broadcast. The BBC said the language stemmed from involuntary verbal tics tied to Tourette syndrome and was not intentional, apologizing for any offense caused.<\/p>\n<p>The episode involved Tourette\u2019s activist John Davidson, whose actions were connected to the film I Swear, which portrays his diagnosis and his efforts to raise awareness of Tourette syndrome, a condition that can include uncontrollable swearing. Host Alan Cumming urged the audience for understanding after the interruptions, and Davidson\u2019s outbursts were reportedly echoed in other moments during the night. Variety and TMZ highlighted the incident and its coverage, with Beachler, the production designer for Sinners, expressing that she found the situation upsetting and criticizing what she saw as a dismissive, \u201cif you were offended\u201d apology, while noting the importance of approaching Tourette\u2019s with sensitivity<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[74390,74391,74393,74392],"class_list":["post-2572690","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-bafta-awards","tag-bbc-apology","tag-racial-slur-incident","tag-tourette-syndrome"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2572690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2572690"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2572690\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2572693,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2572690\/revisions\/2572693"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2572690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2572690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2572690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}