BAFTA has launched a "comprehensive review" of its 2026 Film Awards ceremony.
The British Academy has sent a letter to its members responding to the controversy after Tourette's campaigner John Davidson shouted the N-word while Sinners co-stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage during Sunday's (22.02.26) ceremony, which was hosted by Alan Cumming.
In a letter to its members, BAFTA said: "We are in contact with the studios involved and conversations are ongoing.
"We want to assure all our members that a comprehensive review is underway. You may have also seen the BBC have issued their own apology for the broadcast.
"It was a very complex situation and we understand you will have many questions – please rest assured how seriously we are taking this."
Any members who want to contact the organisation are advised to email
membership@bafta.org.
The detail of the investigation wasn't included in the initial public statement released on Monday (23.02.26), in which the organisation took "full responsibility" for the incident.
During the ceremony, John - whose life is the inspiration for the film I Swear - shouted the N-word while Michael and Delroy were presenting an award.
BAFTA said: "We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation and we apologise to all.
"We will learn from this, and keep inclusion at the core of all we do, maintaining our belief in film and storytelling as a critical conduit for compassion and empathy."
They continued: "Early in the ceremony a loud tic in the form of a profoundly offensive term was heard by many people in the room.
"Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage at the time, and we apologise unreservedly to them, and to all those impacted.
"We would like to thank Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism.
"During the ceremony, John chose to leave the auditorium and watch the rest of the ceremony from a screen, and we would like to thank him for his dignity and consideration of others, on what should have been a night of celebration for him."
Meanwhile, John has released his own statement saying he is "deeply mortified", while he has given an interview questioning part of the production on the night.
He told Variety: "StudioCanal were working closely with BAFTA, and BAFTA had made us all aware that any swearing would be edited out of the 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 — which, after all, was some 40 rows back from the stage — from being included in the broadcast.
"As I reflect on the auditorium, I remember there was a microphone just in front of me, and with hindsight I have to question whether this was wise, so close to where I was seated, knowing I would tic."
