BBC removes BAFTAs from iPlayer and apologises for racial slur

The BBC has apologised for not editing out a racial slur shouted during Sunday's BAFTA Film Awards, and removed the show from iPlayer.

The racial slur was shouted by Tourette campaigner John Davidson during the ceremony. The two-hour programme was edited down from the three-hour live show filmed several hours earlier that evening at London's Royal Festival Hall, and went out on BBC1 at 7pm.

While the ceremony was available to view on iPlayer up until around lunchtime on Monday, it was then removed, with the message, "This episode will be available soon". The racial slur was shouted early on in the ceremony while two black actors were on stage.

Tourette campaigner John Davidson could be heard shouting the offensive word as Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo, stars of vampire horror Sinners, presented the first award of the evening on Sunday night. Both men appeared to pause after the insult was heard, then continued their presentation.

Responding to the incident on Monday, the BBC said: "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.

"We apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer." Speaking before the episode was removed from iPlayer, a BBC spokesperson had apologised "for any offence caused by the language heard," and during the ceremony. The host, Alan Cumming also acknowledged the "strong and offensive language" shouted during the show.

He told the audience: "If you have seen the film I Swear, you will know that film is about the experience of a person with Tourette syndrome. "Tourette syndrome is a disability, and the tics you've heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette syndrome has no control over their language.

"We apologise if you were offended." US entertainment outlet Variety also reported other incidents throughout the ceremony, including an individual shouting "shut the f*** up" at BAFTA chair Sara Putt and someone saying "f*** you" as the award for best children's and family film was being accepted. Speaking at the Warner Brothers after-party following the ceremony, Lindo told Vanity Fair that he and Jordan "did what we had to do" while presenting, but said he wished "someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterwards." The audience had been informed of Davidson's condition in an unaired briefing before the show began.

Cummings then directly addressed the "strong language in the background," following the racial slur. Charity 'deeply saddened' by backlash to the incident Several high-profile figures have commented on the incident, including Jamie Foxx, who called the comment "unacceptable," and actor Wendell Pierce who said it was "infuriating" an apology to Jordan and Lindo hadn't "taken priority".

Tourette syndrome charity Tourettes Action said it "deeply understands" the harm of the racial slur, but called for understanding of the condition. The charity said it was "incredibly proud" of Mr Davidson and those involved in the film I Swear, which tells the story of his life, having developed the condition when he was 12.

A spokesperson for the charity said: "We also want to address the negative comments that have surfaced following John's involuntary vocal tics during the ceremony. "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. "People with Tourette's can say words or phrases they do not mean, do not endorse and feel great distress about afterwards.

"These symptoms are neurological, not intentional, and they are something John - like many others with Tourette's - lives with every single day." Read more: The film fighting back against abuse and 'cheap laughs' at Tourette's expense It went on to say that it had found the "backlash" to the incident "deeply saddening" and added that Mr Davidson had made a decision to leave the ceremony early. Mr Davidson was made an MBE in 2019 for his efforts to increase understanding of Tourette syndrome and helping countless families deal with the condition.

Ahead of the film's release, he told Sky News about the "horrific" experience of swearing at the Queen due to coprolalia - a condition which causes involuntary utterance of socially inappropriate words or phrases. According to the NHS, Tourette syndrome is a condition that causes you to make sudden, repetitive sounds or movements - called tics.

There is no cure for the condition, but it can be managed through treatment. Tics can be triggered by stress, excitement or tiredness.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention adds that only around one in 10 people with the condition suffer from coprolalia, where a tic is the excessive or uncontrollable use of inappropriate language. Read more on the BAFTAs:The full list of winnersAwards as it happened It comes after British newcomer Robert Aramayo won best actor at the BAFTA, beating Timothee Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio, with his performance in I Swear.

The film tells Mr Davidson's real-life story, based on his memoir of the same name. Sky News has contacted the BBC, as well as John Davidson, Micheal B Jordan and Delroy Lindo for comment..