Sinners production designer Hannah Beachler has criticised Alan Cumming’s on-stage apology after the N-word was shouted during the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards.
The offensive term was shouted by John Davidson, a prominent Tourette syndrome advocate and the subject of biopic I Swear, who was in the audience.
Cumming briefly paused the ceremony twice to acknowledge Davidson’s involuntary verbal tics. During a presentation by Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo, Davidson shouted a racial slur as they announced Avatar: Fire and Ash as the winner of Best Visual Effects.
The remark, though not clearly audible in the hall, was picked up in the BBC’s live broadcast.
Later in the evening, Cumming told the audience they “may have noticed” some “strong language” and apologised if “anyone was offended”.
Beachler, who said she experienced Davidson’s involuntary racial slurs more than once that night, described the situation as “almost impossible” but said the wording of the apology compounded the hurt.
Writing on X, she said: “I keep trying to write about what happened at the BAFTAs, and I can’t find the words. The situation is almost impossible, but it happened three times that night, and one of the three times was directed at myself on the way to dinner after the show.
“And a third time at a Black woman. I understand and deeply know why this is an impossible situation. I know we must handle this with grace and continue to push through. But what made the situation worse was the throw-away apology of ‘if you were offended’ at the end of the show.
“Of course we were offended… but our frequency, our spiritual vibration is tuned to a higher level than what happened. I am not steel, this did not bounce off of me, but I exist above it. It can’t take away from who I am as an artist.”
The outbursts have prompted debate online about contingency planning and broadcast delay procedures. Actors and commentators on both sides of the Atlantic have questioned why the language was not edited out of the BBC transmission.
I keep trying to write about what happened at the BAFTAs, and I can't find the words. The situation is almost impossible, but it happened 3 times that night, and one of the three times was directed at myself on the way to dinner after the show.
— HannahBeachler (@HannahEBeachler) February 23, 2026
According to Deadline, Davidson’s attendance had been discussed in planning meetings between the BBC and producers Penny Lane TV ahead of the ceremony. He left the auditorium at one point during the evening, and the interruptions appeared to stop thereafter.
A BBC spokesperson said: “Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards 2026. This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and was not intentional. We apologise for any offence caused by the language heard.”
Davidson has long been recognised for his advocacy work around Tourette syndrome and in 2018 received an honour from Queen Elizabeth II for services to raising awareness of the condition.
The controversy unfolded on a night of major success for Sinners. Ryan Coogler’s vampire thriller won three awards at the ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall, becoming the most decorated film by a Black director in BAFTA history.
