Delroy Lindo Speaks Out on Shocking N-Word Moment That Rocked the BAFTAs

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Delroy Lindo has spoken about the incident at the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards where a racial slur was audible during the live broadcast. He shared his thoughts with Vanity Fair at a post-ceremony party, recalling the moment he and his “Sinners” co-star, Michael B. Jordan, were presenting the Best Visual Effects award to “Avatar: Fire and Ash.”

During the presentation, someone in the audience shouted a racial slur. Actor Daniel Kaluuya, known as Lindo in the report, said he and Jordan reacted as needed in that moment. He later expressed disappointment that BAFTA didn’t reach out to them afterward. Variety has contacted BAFTA for a statement.

John Davidson, who has Tourette syndrome, unintentionally shouted an offensive term. He was at the awards ceremony because a movie about his life, “I Swear,” had been nominated. The actor who played him in the film, Robert Aramayo, won Best Actor. Tourette syndrome can cause people to make involuntary sounds and movements, sometimes including sudden, unexpected vocalizations.

During the event, Davidson repeatedly disrupted proceedings with inappropriate language. This happened both while BAFTA chair Sara Putt was speaking and when the film “Boong,” the winner in the children’s and family category, was accepting its award.

According to reports, some people sitting close to Bill Davidson were told by event staff that he wasn’t feeling well, but they weren’t given specifics about what was happening or if he might have difficulty speaking. Many attendees say neither BAFTA nor the BBC gave them any advance notice about the situation.

After some interruptions during the show, host Alan Cumming explained that the strong language some viewers may have heard is sometimes a symptom of Tourette’s syndrome, which the film explores. He thanked the audience for being understanding and for helping to maintain a respectful environment.

He then explained that Tourette’s Syndrome is a disability, and the sounds you may have heard are involuntary tics – meaning the person experiencing them can’t control them. He apologized if anyone was offended.

The problem escalated when the BBC broadcast the ceremony footage that evening. The offensive language was still clearly heard in the program. The BBC subsequently took the show down from its iPlayer streaming service and apologized for the incident.

During the BAFTA Film Awards, some viewers may have heard inappropriate language. This was due to involuntary tics related to Tourette syndrome, and it wasn’t intentional, as was explained during the show. We’re sorry this wasn’t removed before the broadcast and are now editing it out of the version available on BBC iPlayer.

This incident has started a conversation about how live shows deal with surprising or delicate situations, particularly those involving people with disabilities. It’s also prompting a look at how well event organizers communicate with performers and winners before a big show.

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2026-02-23 21:44