The BBC claims the racial slurs shouted at ‘Sinners’ actors during the BAFTAs were the result of Tourette syndrome.
The BBC apologized on Sunday for the “strong and offensive language” announced during the taping of the British Academy Film Awards after a clip of attendees shouting racial slurs at Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo sparked outrage online.
Jordan and Lindo, the stars of “Sinners,” were on stage in London to present the first award of the night, for best viewing results, at the 79th annual awards show, which took place on Sunday and was broadcast on the BBC. The actors, who are Black, appeared to pause after being yelled at with the “N-word”, then continued to present.
(NBC News watched the show for a while. The US broadcast of the event on E! didn’t seem to dampen the buzz.)
Representatives for BAFTA, Jordan and Lindo did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A representative for Versant, which owns E!, did not immediately respond to questions before and after its telecast about the scandal.
A BBC spokesperson said the tongue twister was caused by someone who had Tourette syndrome, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes as “a condition of the nervous system that causes people to make sudden and repeated movements, movements, or sounds, called ‘tics.'”
“Some viewers may experience strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards 2026,” a spokesperson said in an emailed statement to NBC News. “This came from a slur on Tourette syndrome, and was not intentional. We apologize for any offense caused by the language we heard.”
Various, who were in the room at the Royal Festival Hall in London when the program was recorded, reported that it was not only Jordan and Lindo’s panic attack. Someone reportedly yelled “shut the f— up” as BAFTA chair Sara Putt gave an introductory speech and “f— you” while accepting the award for best children’s and family film, Variety reported.
The publication identified the person who shouted the N-word as Tourette syndrome campaigner John Davidson. He was also nominated for the film “I Swear,” which follows the story of his diagnosis of Tourette syndrome, his struggles and his journey to raise awareness. The title is a nod to his uncontrollable profanity associated with the disease.
NBC News could not confirm that it was Davidson. The BBC did not respond to a follow-up request about who made the wrongdoing.
The film, which received critical acclaim in the UK – with Robert Aramayo winning in the best actor category on Sunday – doesn’t head to US theaters until the spring. Sony Pictures Classics, which has taken over the distribution rights, says on its website that the film will be released on April 24.
BAFTAs boss Alan Cumming acknowledged the “strong and offensive language” that was shouted during the show, including once after Aramayo’s win.
“You may have heard strong and offensive language tonight. If you’ve seen the movie ‘I Swear’ you’ll know that the movie is about someone with Tourette syndrome,” Cumming told the audience. “Tourette syndrome is a disability, and you don’t like the things you heard tonight, which means that a person with Tourette syndrome has no control over their language. We’re sorry if you’re upset.”
The film’s director, Kirk Jones, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Representatives for Sony Pictures Classic and Bankside Films, which distributed the movie in the UK, also did not immediately respond to requests for comment. NBC News did not immediately respond to a message posted on Davidson’s Instagram account.
This year’s BAFTAs also marked a historic moment for “Sinners” director Ryan Coogler, who became the first black person to win best screenplay. The vampire thriller won three awards in total.
