Racial slur aimed at Michael B. Jordan, Delroy Lindo prompts backlash

Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAYMon, February 23, 2026 at 4:44 PM UTC

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The BAFTAs and BBC's airing of a racial slur hurled at Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo is causing outrage.

The broadcaster aired the slur after a guest, reportedly with Tourette syndrome, shouted out while the "Sinners" stars, who are both Black, presented the award for best visual effects at the awards ceremony, the United Kingdom equivalent of the Oscars, on Sunday, Feb. 22.

USA TODAY has reached out to Jordan and Lindo's reps for comment.

The moment was not edited out of the broadcast, which aired on a two-hour delay, and remained on the BBC's streaming service through the morning after. The BBC has since apologized for the move, claiming that a shout was audible, but the word would have been difficult to make out.

"The BBC has apologised for not editing out a racial slur from its Bafta Film Awards coverage after a guest with Tourette's syndrome shouted out when two black actors were on stage," the outlet wrote.

The British broadcaster added in a statement: "Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the Bafta Film Awards. This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional."

From left, Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo with FIJI Water at the 41st annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival: Outstanding Performer Award honoring Michael B. Jordan at The Arlington Theatre on Feb. 12, 2026, in Santa Barbara, California.

The BBC identified the guest as John Davidson, a Tourette syndrome advocate and the subject of the BAFTA-nominated biopic "I Swear." His symptoms include tics and uncontrollable outbursts.

Davidson has Tourette's with Coprolalia, which involves involuntary outbursts of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks, according to the Tourette Association of America. The majority of people with Tourette syndrome do not have Coprolalia, with a prevalence of 10-33% of people, according to the National Library of Medicine.

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Oscar hopefuls including Emma Stone ("Bugonia") are stepping out on the red carpet at the 2026 British Academy Film Awards on Sunday, Feb. 22, where "Sinners" and "Once Battle After Another" are vying for best film honors.

Reactions to racial slur outburst at BAFTAs highlight 'impossible,' 'volatile' situation

Several stars reacted to the moment on social media, sharing anger over what they feel are misdirected apologies.

"Asking for more grace for the person who shouted a racist slur instead of for Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo, who had to push through being embarrassed in front of their peers," journalist Jemele Hill said on X. "But that's often the expectation — that Black people are just supposed to be ok with being disrespected and dehumanized so that other people don't feel bad."

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Actor Wendell Pierce responded to Hill's post, writing, "It's infuriating that the first reaction wasn't complete and full throatted [sic] apologies to Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan. The insult to them takes priority. It doesn't matter the reasoning for the racist slur."

Michael B. Jordan poses on the red carpet during the 2026 British Academy of Film and Television Awards at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre, London, Feb. 22, 2026.

Alan Cummings addresses tic outburst from John Davidson during BAFTA awards

Hannah Beachler, a production designer for "Sinners," said one of Davidson's outbursts was aimed at her. She called it an "impossible situation."

"I know we must handle this with grace and continue to push through. But what made the situation worse was the throw away apology of 'if you were offended,' at the end of the show," she wrote on X early Monday. "Of course we were offended ... but our frequency, our spiritual vibration is tuned to a higher level than what happened. I am not steal [sic], this did not bounce off of me, but I exist above it."

Meanwhile, Variety awards editor Clayton Davis wrote that "the primary failure here rests with BAFTA and the BBC."

"They still allowed the slur to air, unfiltered, and then let the moment circulate as a clip — stripped of context and primed for outrage," he continued. "That decision poured gasoline on an already volatile situation."

Delroy Lindo attends the BAFTA Film Awards nominees' party at The National Gallery, in London, Feb. 21, 2026.

Davis also notes the BBC managed to edit out filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr. saying "Free Palestine."

Delroy Lindo reacts to BAFTAs racial slur incident

Lindo told Vanity Fair at a Warner Brothers post-ceremony afterparty that he and Jordan "did what we had to do" by continuing to present, but that he also wished "someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterwards."

Multiple times during the award show, Alan Cumming briefly paused to address Davidson's expletives and racial slurs. "You may have noticed some strong language in the background. This can be part of how Tourette's syndrome shows up for some people as the film explores that experience," Cumming said, per Variety. "Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone."

According to Variety and Deadline, several outbursts were heard in the room, including "boring" and "shut the [expletive] up" when BAFTA chair Sara Putt gave an introductory speech during the awards show ceremony, and another expletive was shouted when directors of "Boong" accepted the award for best children's and family film.

Contributing: Pamela Avila, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: BAFTAs, BBC air racial slur hurled at Michael B. Jordan, Delroy Lindo

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