Bafta insider claims the BBC ‘knew what happened’ before N-word slur aired on TV

It’s been claimed that the BBC ‘knew’ about John Davidson’s involuntary use of the N-word at the Baftas, yet it still ended up in the final broadcast.

Last Sunday, Tourette’s campaigner Davidson, 54, attended the annual film ceremony in London with the cast and crew of I Swear, a biographical drama based on his life.

Robert Aramayo, 33, who plays the Scottish activist in the movie, took home the leading actor trophy, as well as the EE rising star, while I Swear also bagged the casting gong.

It was a huge night for all involved in making the biopic, which chronicles Davidson’s upbringing in Scotland in the 80s when his severe Tourette’s syndrome was widely misunderstood.

However, the dazzling success was soon marred by controversy when the Baftas aired on BBC One, as Davidson could be heard yelling and swearing throughout the first half due to his condition.

This included him shouting the N-word while Sinners actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented an award, raising questions about why it wasn’t edited out, given that the awards are not live.

Now, it’s been claimed that the broadcaster ‘knew what happened’ with plenty of warning, with an insider telling Deadline that a Bafta representative informed producers at Penny Lane TV of the incident after it occurred.

‘The BBC knew what happened,’ said the source.

Once the alarm was raised, Bafta’s position is that responsibility then fell to the BBC to ensure that the ceremony (which has a two-hour time delay) did not feature offensive language that breached broadcasting regulations.

An investigation is currently underway to get to the bottom of what the BBC has since called a ‘serious mistake’.

Amid rising anger and criticism, when contacted for a comment on the latest claims, a BBC spokesperson reiterated their initial statement.

‘The BBC has been reviewing what happened at Bafta on Sunday evening,’ they told Metro.

‘This was a serious mistake, and the Director General has instructed the Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) to complete a fast-tracked investigation and provide a full response to complainants.’

The inclusion of the racial slur in the broadcast has been branded ‘completely unacceptable and harmful’ by culture secretary Lisa Nandy, while the Commons culture, media, and sport committee has written to outgoing director general Tim Davie for answers.

Inside the BBC, there is also said to be concern about how the ceremony was allowed to remain on BBC iPlayer for so long with the slur in it.

Coverage remained on the streaming platform for 15 hours before it was taken down and edited later on Monday. Clips of the moment had long been circulating online by this time.

As for Davidson, Jordan, and Lindo themselves, Tony-nominated actor Lindo, 73, said he wishes that a higher-up at the Baftas had spoken to them afterwards.

Jordan, 39, has not commented publicly, but an industry source exclusively told Metro that he was ‘disgusted, repulsed, and grossed out’ by hearing the slur.

The insider added that it reminded him of ‘how much work has to be done to drive racism underground,’ since he did such extensive research into the psychological impact it has for his role in Sinners.

Meanwhile, Davidson, who was diagnosed with Tourette’s as a teen, gave an interview to Variety, explaining that he reached out to the movie stars to apologise.

He expressed how ‘deeply mortified’ he was and that it is ‘upsetting’ to read endless comments on social media from people calling him ‘racist deep down’ and claiming he wouldn’t say such things ‘unless he thought them’.

‘The only time I became aware that my tic had reached the stage was when Delroy and Michael B. Jordan appeared to look up from their role as presenters, and soon after that, I decided to leave the auditorium,’ he told the publication.

Davidson then attempted to calm himself down and ‘breathe,’ but he left of his own accord to avoid causing ‘any more upset’.

Bafta provided him with a private room where he could watch the rest of the awards via a monitor.

Still, he has questions, realising in hindsight that there was a microphone ‘just in front’ of him in the auditorium.

‘I have to question whether this was wise, so close to where I was seated, knowing I would tic,’ he asked.

Davidson went on to say that, initially, his tics were noises and movements, but the more nervous he got, ‘the more [his] tics ramped up.’

This led to his coprolalia tics (socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks) coming out, at which point his ‘stomach just dropped’.

‘As always, I felt a wave of shame and embarrassment hit me all at once. You want the floor to swallow you up. I wanted to disappear. I wanted to hide — just get away from all the eyes.’

I Swear director Kirk Jones has vocalised his support for Davidson, saying the film’s subject was ‘let down’ at the weekend.

Jones told The Telegraph that he thought the slur was contained inside the venue, not considering that it would be broadcast to the nation.

He only learned that it had been aired at around 3am, receiving messages from the US after it began making headlines over there.

Nanny McPhee director Jones then ‘didn’t sleep for two nights,’ having said he understands ‘both sides of the argument,’ but ‘the overriding irony is that this is the reason why [they] made the film in the first place.’

‘I think John was let down on many, many levels,’ said the filmmaker.

‘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.’

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