The BBC has launched a fast-track investigation after a racial slur was aired during the BAFTA awards, a mistake the broadcaster calls “serious”
LONDON: BBC Director-General Tim Davie has ordered a fast-tracked internal investigation into a “serious mistake” that saw a racist slur broadcast during the BAFTA awards.
The probe will examine why the offensive language was aired despite a two-hour broadcast delay and why it remained on the BBC’s iPlayer streaming service until the following morning.
The slur was shouted by Tourette’s sufferer John Davidson, who inspired one of the winning films, during the London ceremony.
Davidson said he is “deeply mortified” and that the outburst was caused by an “involuntary tic”.
He was heard shouting as actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan, who are both black, presented an award.
“The BBC has been reviewing what happened at BAFTA on Sunday evening,” the broadcaster said in a statement.
“This was a serious mistake and the Director-General has instructed the Executive Complaints Unit to complete a fast-tracked investigation and provide a full response to complainants.”
Culture Minister Lisa Nandy welcomed the investigation, describing the broadcasting of a racial slur as “completely unacceptable and harmful”.
“The BBC must ensure that this never happens again,” she said.
Davidson said the BBC should have “worked harder” to ensure his offensive words were not broadcast.
“I have made four documentaries with the BBC in the past and feel that they should have been aware of what to expect from Tourette’s, and worked harder to prevent anything that I said … from being included in the broadcast,” he told Variety.
According to the UK’s PA news agency, film studio Warner Bros raised immediate concerns and requested the slur be removed.
But it could still be heard when the ceremony aired two hours later.
The controversy follows another damaging episode during the BBC’s Glastonbury festival coverage in June 2025.
Staff failed to pull a livestream after a performer led crowds in an anti-Israel chant.
The BBC later apologised and said it would no longer live-broadcast performances it deemed “high risk”.
Davie is due to leave his post in April after resigning in November over the editing of a documentary about US President Donald Trump.
Trump has filed a USD 10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC over the edit for its “Panorama” programme.
He alleges the editing made it appear he explicitly urged supporters to attack the US Capitol.
