International Insider: BAFTA Fallout; London TV Screenings; Berlin Crisis
#BAFTA Film Awards#John Davidson#Tourette Syndrome#BBC broadcast#racial slur#Robert Aramayo#Michael B. Jordan#Delroy Lindo
📌 Key Takeaways
John Davidson with Tourette Syndrome involuntarily used N-word at BAFTA awards
BBC failed to edit racial slur from broadcast despite editing other controversial content
BAFTA and BBC are formally reviewing the incident
Davidson's condition is non-malicious but caused offense to Black audience members
📖 Full Retelling
John Davidson, a campaigner with Tourette Syndrome whose life story was portrayed by Robert Aramayo in the film 'I Swear', involuntarily used the N-word multiple times during the BAFTA Film Awards in London on Sunday night, causing a major controversy when the BBC failed to edit the offensive language from its delayed two-hour broadcast. The incident occurred when Davidson, who was in the audience, experienced involuntary verbal tics, including during a presentation by Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo, with the offensive language cutting deep and causing hurt to many Black attendees despite Davidson's condition being non-malicious and his lifelong efforts to educate others about Tourette Syndrome. The BBC's failure to remove the slur from both the live broadcast and subsequent iPlayer viewing the following morning has sparked significant backlash, especially considering that the network did edit out other controversial content, including a speech mentioning 'free Palestine.' As the incident continues to unfold, both BAFTA and the BBC are conducting formal reviews of what happened, with industry observers noting the potential for this to become a teachable moment about disability representation and racial sensitivity in media.
Robert Michael Aramayo (born 6 November 1992) is an English actor. From 2016 to 2017, he played the role of young Eddard Stark in the sixth and seventh season of the HBO series Game of Thrones. In 2021, he starred in the Netflix psychological thriller miniseries Behind Her Eyes.
Neurodevelopmental disorder involving motor and vocal tics
Tourette syndrome (TS), or simply Tourette's, is a motor disorder that begins in childhood or adolescence. It is characterized by multiple movement (motor) tics and at least one vocal (phonic) tic. Common tics are blinking, coughing, throat clearing, sniffing, and facial movements.
The British Academy Film Awards, more commonly known as the BAFTAs or BAFTA Awards, is an annual film award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) to honour the best British and international film contributions. The ceremony was first held in London at Odeon Luxe Leic...
We’re coming to the end of another whirlwind week in international film and TV, Insiders, and that’s not just because Paramount has won the battle for Warner Bros. Discovery. Jesse Whittock leading you through. Sign up to the newsletter here . BAFTA Fallout A shocking week: It was supposed to be celebratory, but turned into a nightmare. The BAFTA Film Awards were held on Sunday night in London with Robert Aramayo upsetting the Hollywood stars in town to win Best Leading Actor for his portrayal of John Davidson , a campaigner with Tourette Syndrome, in I Swear . The glory was quickly overshadowed when Davidson, who was in the audience, was heard involuntarily using the N-word a number of times, once when Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage presenting an award. As it’s been stressed a number of times, Davidson cannot stop his outbursts and they are delivered without malice. In fact, he has spent most of his life attempting to explain his condition and campaign, hence the film. However, it’s equally true the word cut deep and was hurtful to many Black people in the audience. The issue blew up spectacularly as the BBC failed to edit the words out of its BAFTA broadcast, which runs with a two-hour delay. (A later speech including the words “free Palestine” was edited.) It’s kinda unfathomable how it happened, and that the slur was still audible the following morning on the BBC iPlayer. The BBC and BAFTA are now both formally reviewing the situation. There have been so many updates emerging that you’re best off clicking here for a full run down of our top-class reporting. In the midst of the issue, which remains live, Baz Bamigboye wrote this important piece about the implications of Sunday night’s events and how it could become a teachable moment. I implore you to read it. Related Stories News Revealed: BBC Chair Was In Room At BAFTAs For Racial Slur Incident Included In Broadcast
