BAFTAs Guest With Tourettes Shouts Racial Slur During Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo’s Appearance

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by Alex Marshall

February 23, 2026

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The 2026 BAFTAs ceremony took an unexpected turn when a man with Tourette’s syndrome involuntarily shouted a racial slur during Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo’s presentation of the award for special visual effects. The incident occurred live on air, shocking both现场观众和在家观看的数百万观众。The BBC later decided to remove the slur from its streaming platform, but critics argued that the initial broadcast demonstrated a lack of understanding of the term's offensive nature and historical use to demean Black individuals. Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award during the ceremony when the incident took place. The man with Tourette’s syndrome, identified as John Davidson, reportedly uttered the slur involuntarily due to his condition. This moment became a focal point of the show, overshadowing its intended purpose as a celebration of cinematic achievements. While the BBC stated that the slur would be edited out from their recorded version, many questioned why it wasn’t addressed live at the time. Kehinde Andrews, a professor of Black studies, criticized the handling of the incident. He argued that broadcasting such a term, even involuntarily, perpetuates harm and misunderstandings about race. Andrews emphasized that Britain often struggles with acknowledging and addressing racial issues, highlighting a broader cultural problem. He also noted that it would have been more considerate to edit out the slur for Davidson’s sake, as it was not his fault. The incident has sparked discussions about how media organizations handle offensive content and the importance of understanding its impact on marginalized communities. Critics argue that such incidents underscore the need for greater sensitivity and proactive measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The BAFTAs and BBC’s response, or lack thereof, have been scrutinized as examples of inadequate handling of racial slurs in public broadcasts. This事件不仅引发了对种族主义言论在媒体中的传播的关注，还揭示了英国社会在处理种族问题上的挑战。It serves as a reminder of the importance of education, sensitivity, and accountability when such incidents occur.

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Originally published on NYT Homepage on 2/23/2026