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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment

What the Baftas N-word controversy revealed about disability and race

Robert Aramayo, left, who stars in I Swear, with John Davidson at the nominees party for the Bafta film awards 2026.
Robert Aramayo, left, who stars in I Swear, with John Davidson at the nominees party for the Bafta film awards 2026. Photograph: Gareth Cattermole/Bafta/Getty Images

I don’t think anger should be aimed at the BBC for broadcasting the N-word (I was at the Baftas – and while hearing the N-word was unsettling, all anger should be aimed at the BBC, 25 February). As the mother of a mixed-race teenager with Tourette syndrome, I cannot express how sad I am that taking offence at a tic has been justified.

My son’s education has been derailed – a teacher took offence at a tic (eye rolling) and he was so humiliated that he left the school. Controversially, I disagree that the N-word should have been edited out in the BBC broadcast. We need to understand the implications of finding someone’s disability offensive.

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