BBC must answer for racist slur, Labour MP demands

Labour MP Dawn Butler has written to the BBC following its recent decision to air an involuntary racist slur. Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson shouted the N-word at the BAFTAs, and both Black actors visibly shuddered when they heard it before composing themselves and continuing. Butler has now asked for an “urgent explanation” from the broadcaster. Their choice to air the slur led to widespread hurt against both the Black and disabled community.

The BBC successfully, and conveniently, cut any mention of Palestine from the broadcast. This demonstrates it’s ability to axe or censor content, so why the double standard? This BAFTA incident would suggest they simply didn’t want to, raising questions once again about whose interests the broadcaster serves.

“This is painful and unforgivable”

The offensive moment in question came as two Black actors, Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo, were on the BAFTA stage to present an award for ‘special visual effects’. Microphones then clearly picked up John Davidson shouting the N-word, a deeply painful racist slur for the Black community.

Butler, acknowledging that Davidson’s disability causes involuntary verbal and physical tics, questions why BBC producers aired the moment, knowing the harm it would cause.

Has BBC learned nothing from the whiplash of the Trump panorama saga…

Butler also makes the point that BBC refused to broadcast an acceptance speech from British writer Akinola Davies Jr for uttering “free Palestine”. BBC, it seems, has an allergy to anything anti-Zionist, showing no concern for minoritised Black and disabled communities.

Commenting on this in her letter, Butler stated:

The BBC could have prevented this, given that the programme was aired on a two-hour delay. It is disappointing that this language was not removed prior to transmission, particularly when other content was edited out. Now we need to understand why.

I understand that the BBC has since edited the iPlayer version to remove the racist slur, I would appreciate a written explanation as to why this was not addressed before the delayed broadcast, who was in the editing room, who made the overall decision and why Mr Davies Jr’s remarks were deemed unsuitable while the racist slur was initially left in.

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It can’t be denied; Black people were on the receiving end of a racist slur, intended or not, carrying the weight of decades of colonial savagery and indignity. Davidson in return has faced accusations of racism for an involuntary verbal tick entirely out of his control, enraging the disabled community.

The BBC has let down both in this instance – an entirely avoidable mistake.

Compassion where the right-wing breed division

We wrote earlier today that both minoritised groups have every right to feel upset, with our own Lyndon Mukasa commenting:

While arguments about the need to understand Tourette’s syndrome have validity, this incident is very revealing about the presence of racism in our culture.

Tourette’s syndrome is defined as a motor disorder characterised by involuntary tics. It is very likely that John Davidson’s Tourette’s is classified as coprolalia which is expressed in the form of tics that are involuntarily obscene, derogatory and offensive.

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He added that:

It is not known if Davidson is racist or not and it probably doesn’t matter, because his Tourettes drew on a social artifact to express itself as a racist outburst. What John Davidson’s Tourette’s syndrome tells us is that racism exists very much in our society and culture and if it didn’t then Davidson would have likely said something else that would not be rooted in an anti-Black racism.

According to the Guardian, Black British film maker Jonte Richardson decided to quit as a BAFTA judge, over “utterly unforgiveable”  actions.

Expressing his disgust with BAFTA’s (mis)handling, Richardson said:

After considerable soul-searching, I feel compelled to withdraw from the Bafta emerging talent judging panel. The organisation’s handling of the unfortunate Tourette’s N-word incident last night at the awards was utterly unforgivable. I cannot and will not contribute my time, energy and expertise to an organisation that has repeatedly failed to safeguard the dignity of its Black guests, members and the Black creative community.

This is particularly unfortunate given that this year’s cohort boasts some incredible Black talent, especially one of my favourite shows of 2025, Just Act Normal.

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However, when an organisation like Bafta, with its own long history of systemic racism, refuses to acknowledge the harm inflicted on both the Black and disabled communities and offer an appropriate apology, remaining involved would be tantamount to condoning its behaviour.

It wouldn’t be far-fetched to presume that the BBC’s decision, just maybe, intended to stir the pot, and deepen divisions between embattled communities.

If so, it did a bloody good job of it. That said, the general public should rise above it – we mustn’t pick sides – especially if you don’t belong to either community. A hierarchy of compassion should not prevail, so as to not play into the hands of the far-right.

Featured image via the Canary