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  "path": "/celebrity/i-swear-director-john-davidson-racial-slur-bafta-michael-b-jordan",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-27T22:30:22.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "involuntary racial slur",
    "Adil Ray gloats over Gorton and Denton as he disputes 'homophobic' labelling of Muslim voters",
    "Bafta warned BBC about John Davidson tic before broadcast as 'racial slur' saga takes new twist",
    "Alex Armstrong hails ‘great day for free speech’ after CPS lose Koran-burning appeal",
    "statement",
    "apologised",
    "Lisa Nandy",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nKirk Jones, the filmmaker behind the Bafta-winning I Swear, has sharply criticised the BBC's decision to broadcast John Davidson's involuntary racial slur during Sunday's ceremony.\n\nThe Tourette’s campaigner, whose life story inspired the Bafta-winning film I Swear, shouted the N-word while Sinners stars Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting on stage at the Royal Festival Hall.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe moment was later aired despite the ceremony being broadcast with a two-hour delay, sparking widespread backlash and prompting apologies from both the BBC and Bafta.\n\nMr Jones, 61, sharply criticised the corporation’s handling of the incident, suggesting Mr Davidson had been “let down” at multiple levels.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n“I think John was let down on many, many levels,” the filmmaker told The Telegraph.\n\n“And I think the fact that that (tic) went out for broadcast was perhaps one of the worst ways in which he was let down on the night.”\n\nMr Jones said he was stunned the outburst was not removed before transmission.\n\n“I can't believe it wasn't very easily and very technically possible to get rid of it. I really struggle to understand that,” he said.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHe argued had the tic never made it to air, the situation could have been contained within the venue itself.\n\n“If you just imagine for a second that that was not broadcast, then suddenly the problem was restricted to everyone in the room,” he explained.\n\n“And Bafta could write to everyone in the room, and they [could have] said, ‘We wanted to apologise again, we understand, this, that and the other.’ They could have done that the next day to all the guests, and no one would have known that it happened… You wouldn't have the clips.”\n\nGuests attending the ceremony had been warned about Mr Davidson’s presence and the possibility of hearing his tics.\n\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * Adil Ray gloats over Gorton and Denton as he disputes 'homophobic' labelling of Muslim voters\n  * Bafta warned BBC about John Davidson tic before broadcast as 'racial slur' saga takes new twist\n  * Alex Armstrong hails ‘great day for free speech’ after CPS lose Koran-burning appeal\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nA production manager briefed attendees beforehand, something Mr Jones described as a “full briefing”, prompting a lengthy standing ovation for the activist.\n\nMr Davidson, who also served as an executive producer on I Swear, later expressed profound regret over the incident.\n\nIn a statement released on Monday, he said he was “deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning”.\n\nHe left the ceremony early, explaining he was “aware of the distress my tics were causing”.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMr Davidson has since revealed he had received assurances that any offensive tics would be removed from the broadcast.\n\nSpeaking to Variety, he disclosed that he experienced around ten different offensive verbal tics during the evening, including homophobic remarks and another racial slur.\n\nMr Jones also reflected on the emotional toll the controversy has taken on him.\n\n“I think it really upset him. It upsets him that he upsets other people,” the director said.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe BBC has apologised for failing to edit the slur and removed the original programme from iPlayer, replacing it with an amended version.\n\nBafta has also said sorry to Mr Jordan and Mr Lindo, who were on stage at the time of the incident, stating: “We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation and we apologise to all.”\n\nCulture Secretary Lisa Nandy has welcomed a fast-tracked investigation by the BBC’s executive complaints unit, saying: “Broadcasting a racial slur is completely unacceptable and harmful. The BBC must ensure that this never happens again.”\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "I Swear director slams BBC over John Davidson Bafta slur: ‘Let down on so many levels!'"
}