BAFTA Jury Member Resigns Over Handling of Onstage Slur

The controversy surrounding the BAFTA Film Awards has entered its third day, as a jury member resigns and criticism continues over how a racial slur was handled during the ceremony.

Filmmaker and independent producer Jonte Richardson announced on Facebook that he is stepping down as a BAFTA jury member. He said the British Academy’s response to the incident was “utterly unforgivable.”

The moment occurred Sunday night when “Sinners” co-stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the award for best visual effects. During their appearance, a racial slur was heard from the audience. The source was later identified as John Davidson, a Tourette’s campaigner and executive producer of the BAFTA-nominated short film “I Swear.” Davidson lives with Tourette syndrome, a neurological condition that can cause involuntary movements and vocal tics.

Before the ceremony began, the audience was informed that Davidson was present and might make involuntary sounds or use strong language. Host Alan Cumming also reminded viewers during the broadcast that Tourette’s is a disability and that any language heard was beyond the person’s control.

The BBC, which aired the ceremony on a two-hour delay, apologized for failing to remove the slur from the final broadcast. BAFTA also issued an apology to Jordan and Lindo, thanking them for their “dignity and professionalism.” The organization said it takes full responsibility for putting guests in a difficult position and apologized “unreservedly.”

Davidson later said he was “deeply mortified” if anyone believed his involuntary tics were intentional or carried meaning. He left the auditorium after the incident and watched the rest of the ceremony from another room.

Richardson criticized BAFTA’s handling of the situation, saying the organization failed to properly protect the dignity of its Black guests and members. He argued that remaining involved with BAFTA would amount to condoning its behavior and urged leadership to take stronger steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.

BAFTA defended its decision to include Davidson at the ceremony, saying it is committed to inclusion and had taken steps to inform attendees in advance. The organization added that it remains responsible for how the situation unfolded.

The debate continues as members of both Black and disabled communities weigh in on how the incident should have been managed and what accountability looks like moving forward.