Labour MP Dawn Butler asks for 'urgent explanation' over racial slur during BBC's Baftas broadcast

Labour MP Dawn Butler has written to the BBC asking for an "urgent explanation" over the airing of a racist slur during the Bafta Film Awards on Sunday.

John Davidson, a guest with Tourette syndrome who was the inspiration behind the film I Swear, shouted out when two black actors, Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan, were on stage.

On Monday, a BBC spokesman said: "We apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer."

But in a letter to the corporation, the MP for Brent Central said the BBC "could have prevented" the slur being broadcast "given the programme was aired on a two-hour delay."

Butler said the N-word "should never have been aired", describing its broadcast as "painful and unforgivable".

The ceremony started at 17:00 GMT, two hours before the TV broadcast began.

The shout was audible in the broadcast, although many viewers would have struggled to make out the word.

The BBC has been asked for a response to Butler's letter. BBC News understands the producers overseeing the ceremony for the BBC were doing so from a TV truck and simply did not hear the slur.

Several other incidents of inappropriate language were cut out, but that moment was said to have been missed.

The moment initially remained on BBC iPlayer before the ceremony was removed from the streaming service on Monday morning.

Butler also questioned why the BBC removed a portion of Bafta winner Akinola Davies Jr's acceptance speech, which included the line "Free Palestine" and also referred to the importance of migrants' stories.

The My Father's Shadow director made the remark as he ended his speech to accept the prize for best debut by a British writer, director or producer.

Davies Jr and his brother Wale, the film's writer, spoke on stage for two-and-a-half minutes, but their speeches were edited to about one minute for broadcast, which the BBC said was due to time restrictions.

Butler said: "I understand that the BBC has since edited the iPlayer version to remove the racist slur, I would appreciate a written explanation as to why this was not addressed before the delayed broadcast, who was in the editing room, who made the overall decision and why Mr Davies Jr's remarks were deemed unsuitable while the racist slur was initially left in."

A BBC spokesperson told Deadline on Monday: "The same happened to other speeches made during the night and all edits were made to ensure the programme was delivered to time. All winners' speeches will be available to watch via Bafta's YouTube channel."

Meanwhile Jonte Richardson, who was on the Bafta emerging talent judging panel, has said he is stepping down from that role "after considerable soul-searching".

"The organisation's handling of the unfortunate Tourette's N-Word incident last night at the awards was utterly unforgivable," he said.

"I cannot and will not contribute my time energy and expertise to an organisation that has repeatedly failed to safeguard the dignity of its black guests, members and the black creative community."

In a statement on Monday, Bafta said it acknowledged the "harm this has caused, address what happened and apologise to all".

"Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage at the time, and we apologise unreservedly to them, and to all those impacted. We would like to thank Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism."

Bafta also thanked Davidson for his "dignity and consideration of others, on what should have been a night of celebration for him".

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said on Monday that the BBC had made "a horrible mistake" by not editing the N-word out at the time, adding: "I think an apology is important, they need to explain why it wasn't bleeped out."

In its statement issued on Monday, the BBC added: "Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the Bafta Film Awards.

"This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional."

The corporation declined to comment further on why it wasn't initially edited or bleeped out.

After the ceremony, Lindo told Vanity Fair, that he and Jordan, who were handing out an award "did what we had to do" as they carried on presenting, but also said he wished "someone from Bafta spoke to us afterward".

Davidson, a Tourette's campaigner from Galashiels in Scotland, who was made an MBE in 2019, shouted loudly several times before and during the Bafta ceremony.

He said on Monday that he was "deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning".

"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," he said in a statement.

"I chose to leave the auditorium early into the ceremony as I was aware of the distress my tics were causing."

During the ceremony, host Alan Cumming referred to "some strong and offensive language" from someone with Tourette's who therefore had "no control over their language", adding: "We apologise if you were offended."

Speaking to BBC News after the ceremony, Robert Aramayo, who won best actor for playing Davidson in I Swear, said: "They're tics, he [Davidson] is ticking, and we have to understand that the way we perceive Tourette's is a joint responsibility.

"It's not shouting obscenities, it's not being abusive, it's Tourette's and they're tics.

"If it can lead to a deeper understanding of Tourette's syndrome and what tics actually are, if our movie is a part of that conversation, then that's a really incredible thing."