BBC Orders Fast-Track Investigation Into Racial Slur Broadcast At BAFTA Awards, Calls It 'Serious Mistake'

The N-word slur was shouted as black actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting on stage at the BAFTA Awards 2026. BBC has launched an investigation.

Michael B Jordan, Delroy Lindo
BBC launches investigation into BAFTA broadcast slur Photo: Getty Images
info_icon
Summary
Summary of this article
  • The BBC on Wednesday ordered a "fast-tracked" internal investigation into the racist slur aired during the BAFTA awards.

  • They called it a "serious mistake."

  • Earlier, the broadcaster apologised for not editing out the racial slur from its BBC One broadcast.

Recently, the BBC apologised for airing a racial slur shouted by a guest with Tourette syndrome at the BAFTAs. The British broadcaster apologised for not editing out the racial slur from its BBC One broadcast. The show was aired around two hours later, and the offensive word remained on BBC iPlayer overnight before the ceremony was taken down.

Now, it has ordered a quick investigation into how it failed to edit out the racial slur from its broadcast.

BAFTA racist slur incident

During the BAFTA 2026 awards ceremony, the N-word slur was shouted by Tourette’s syndrome campaigner John Davidson as black actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting the award for Best Visual Effects to James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash on stage at London’s Royal Festival Hall. Both remained calm and composed and continued to do their job.

Later, BAFTA issued a statement, apologising to the two actors and taking "full responsibility" for putting their guests in a "very difficult situation."

“We will learn from this, and keep inclusion at the core of all we do, maintaining our belief in film and storytelling as a critical conduit for compassion and empathy,” it stated further.

Published At:
SUBSCRIBE
Tags

Click/Scan to Subscribe

qr-code

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

×