politics
BBC Executive Complaints Unit Rules BAFTAs Broadcast Breach Over Unedited Racial Slur
The BBC's executive complaints unit determined that the network breached editorial standards by airing an unedited racial slur during the February BAFTAs broadcast. The slur was shouted involuntarily by activist John Davidson, who has Tourette syndrome. The unit found the breach unintentional, and the BBC has apologized while removing the word from the iPlayer version.
Apr 8, 8:23 AM·2m read3 sources
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The BBC's executive complaints unit ruled that the network breached editorial standards by failing to edit out a racial slur during its live broadcast of the BAFTAs Film Awards on February 18, 2024. The incident occurred when John Davidson, a white Scottish activist with Tourette syndrome, shouted the N-word involuntarily during the presentation of the first award by actors Michael B.
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" Kate Phillips, the BBC's chief content officer, stated that the unit found the airing should not have occurred and constituted a clear breach, though it was not intentional. Producers did not hear the word at the time, leading to no decision being made to remove it.
The unit noted this as a genuine mistake, particularly since the team correctly identified and edited a subsequent use of the same word in line with pre-agreed protocols on offensive language.
During the ceremony, host Alan Cumming addressed the outburst, explaining that the tics associated with Tourette syndrome are involuntary and that the individual has no control over their language.
He added an apology for any offense caused. The slur was not edited out until Monday, when the BBC removed it from the version available on its iPlayer streaming service. In a statement issued on February 19, 2024, the BBC acknowledged that some viewers heard strong and offensive language arising from involuntary verbal tics linked to Tourette syndrome.
The statement clarified that the language was not intentional and apologized for the failure to edit it prior to broadcast. >"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.
