The BBC faced growing criticism from senior London Labour MP Dawn Butler over its failure to edit out a racial slur from its coverage of the Baftas ceremony prior to broadcast.
Ms Butler, chair of London Labour MPs, initially condemned the Corporation, stressing there had been a two-hour delay before transmission of the offensive language.
“This is painful & unforgivable,” she messaged on X.
She wrote to outgoing BBC Director General Tim Davie, asking for an explanation over the N-word slur which was shouted as Sinners actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan presented the award for special visual effects at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday.
The BBC reported her criticism and told how several other incidents of inappropriate language had been cut out of the broadcast, but that the racial slur “moment” was said to have been missed.
Responding to this, Brent East MP Ms Butler posted: “This raises additional questions of the BBC.
“If the moment was missed why did the host make an apology?
There is a failure of duty of care on all parties concerned. And an obvious bias.”
The @BBC had a 2-hour delay, yet a racial slur was broadcast to millions. We need answers.
— Dawn Butler ✊🏾💙 (@DawnButlerBrent) February 24, 2026
This isn’t about blaming people with Tourette's.
It’s about editorial accountability, failure of duty of care for all and how Black pain is often minimised. ✍🏾https://t.co/tVCm7JD75X
Ms Butler, a former minister for young citizens and youth engagement, later added on X: “The @BBC had a 2-hour delay, yet a racial slur was broadcast to millions. We need answers.
“This isn’t about blaming people with Tourette's.
“It’s about editorial accountability, failure of duty of care for all and how Black pain is often minimised.”
The BBC has apologised for “any offence caused” by the racial slur which was shouted by Tourette campaigner John Davidson during the ceremony.
Mr Davidson, 54, has said he is “deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning”.
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.
During the broadcast, the awards ceremony’s presenter Alan Cumming apologised for the language viewers may have heard.
A BBC spokesperson later 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.”
Robert Aramayo won best actor for his performance in I Swear, which also won best casting. He was also named EE Rising Star.
Mr Davidson was made an MBE in 2019 for his efforts to increase understanding of Tourette syndrome and help families deal with the condition.
The ceremony saw Sinners director Ryan Coogler become the first black winner of the Bafta for best original screenplay for the film, which also won best supporting actress for Wunmi Mosaku and original score.
According to the NHS, Tourette’s syndrome is a condition that causes people to make sudden, repetitive sounds or movements, which in rare incidences can result in offensive language being used, that cannot be controlled.
It says there is no cure but treatment can help to manage the tics.
