British film academy, BBC apologize after BAFTA awards guest with Tourette's shouts racial slur

The British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) and BBC apologized Monday for a racial slur that was broadcast during Sunday's show while two stars of the film Sinners were onstage.

The Tourette syndrome campaigner who shouted the slur said he was "deeply mortified" and what he said was "not a reflection of my personal beliefs."

The highly offensive word could be heard as Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo, who are both Black, were presenting the award for best visual effects during Sunday's BAFTA awards ceremony.

Host Alan Cumming had earlier told the audience that Tourette syndrome advocate John Davidson, who inspired the BAFTA-nominated film I Swear, was in the audience, and Cumming apologized to the audience for the "strong and offensive language" following the outburst.

"Tourette syndrome is a disability and the tics you have heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette syndrome has no control over their language," Cumming said. "We apologize if you were offended."

The incident prompted the academy to apologize for "offensive language that carries incomparable trauma and pain for so many."

It added: "We would like to thank Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism."

Tourettes Action — a Tourette syndrome charity — called for understanding of the condition.

"We deeply understand that these words can cause hurt but at the same time, it is vital that the public understands a fundamental truth about Tourette syndrome: tics are involuntary. They are not a reflection of a person's beliefs, intentions, or character," said Emma McNally, the group's CEO.

Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by sudden, involuntary movements or sounds called tics that tend to wax and wane but can worsen with excitement or anxiety, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. They may appear to be purposeful but are not, and the NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke's Tourette information page says people trying to suppress them often report a buildup of tension before a tic erupts.

The Tourette Association of America says about 10-15 per cent of people with the syndrome experience a kind of vocal tic called coprolalia — involuntary swearing, slurs or other socially unacceptable words or phrases.

Several shouts were audible during the first part of the ceremony, although what was said wasn't intelligible to an Associated Press reporter in the press room.

Davidson said in his statement that "I chose to leave the auditorium early into the ceremony as I was aware of the distress my tics were causing."

The epithet could be heard when the BBC broadcast the ceremony about two hours after the live event. The broadcaster apologized, though the offensive word could still be heard on its iPlayer streaming service on Monday morning. The program was later removed, and the BBC said the slur would be edited out.