Jack Whitehall rips into BBC and Bafta 'racial slur' controversy moments into Brit Awards as he delivers savage joke

Brit Awards host Jack Whitehall sparked quite the reaction from viewers at home as he mocked the BBC and Baftas over an incident involving Tourette's campaigner John Davidson last weekend.

Last Sunday, Mr Davidson, who suffers from Tourette's, attended this year's Baftas after the biopic of his life, I Swear, landed a number of nominations.

During the evening, the audience was informed that Mr Davidson was in attendance and that his involuntary tics may manifest themselves in bad language that would be audible.

Even Baftas host Alan Cumming informed viewers at home that the outbursts they may have been able to hear during the broadcast were tics from Mr Davidson.

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The Tourette's campaigner involuntarily let out tics throughout the evening, but when Sinners actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo took to the stage, one of Mr Davidson's tics resulted in a racial slur.

Despite there being a two-hour delay between the ceremony and its broadcast, the BBC failed to remove the slur from its broadcast, meaning viewers were able to hear the slur.

What has followed has been a torrent of abuse aimed at Mr Davidson, while the BBC and Bafta have both apologised for their roles in the incident.

Mr Davidson has expressed disappointment with the corporation's handling of the ordeal, and the BBC has also gone on to launch a "fast-tracked" investigation into the incident.

Therefore, it was almost inevitable that the next awards in the calendar would result in a few gags at the BBC and Baftas expense, and Mr Whitehall obliged.

Shortly before the first advert break of the evening, Mr Whitehall warned viewers that, as the Brits are live, there may be some bad language.

"It is the Brits, things get a bit raucous," Mr Whitehall said to viewers down the camera.

"There may be some swearing, but don't worry, we've got the best in the business on the beep button tonight..."

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Delivering the punchline, Mr Whitehall added: "It's the guy who did the Baftas, nothing gets past him, he's like Donnarumma."

Laughter erupted in Manchester's Co-op Live, and fans at home similarly applauded Mr Whitehall for his mockery of the BBC and Bafta.

"The guy from the baftas doing the beep box I cannot with Jack Whitehall #brits," one fan typed on X alongside a crying emoji.

"THE BAFTAS JOKE??? JACK BRUH #brits," a second said in disbelief, while a third weighed in with more crying emojis and the message: "It’s the guy who did the baftas #BRITAwards."

Meanwhile, a fourth said: "Okay that baftas joke [skull emoji] I’m not even a Jack Whitehall fan, but THIS is the messy award show energy we need!! Thank god. #brits #britawards."

"Saw the BAFTAS joke coming from a mile away lmao #BRITS #britawards2026 #Brits2026," another weighed in, while a sixth commented: "Best in the business who did the bleep machine for the BAFTA’s is doing it for the #Brits2026 #BRITsAwards," followed by laughing emojis.

And a seventh applauded: "Jack Whitehall taking shots on BBC and BAFTA for not beeping John Davidson. Fair play Jack Whitehall #BRITs." (sic)

Mr Whitehall didn't reserve his swipes just for the BBC and Bafta, however.

Mr Whitehall couldn't resist a dig at Labour's Andy Burnham after spotting him in attendance with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy.

However, after joking that the Brits were the only party Mr Burnham was allowed into, ITV cut Mr Whitehall's microphone so viewers at home were unaware of what he said toward the Culture Secretary.

**Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter **