‘What should have been an evening celebrating diversity and inclusion turned into a trauma-triggering shitshow,’ says host after racial epithet was left in the broadcast
Alan Cumming has joined the chorus of disapproval at the BBC’s failure to edit out a racial slur from their Baftas telecast, saying it turned “what should have been an evening celebrating diversity and inclusion into a trauma-triggering shitshow”.
Before the live event, Cumming warned the audience that disturbances might occur on account of the involuntary tics of Tourette syndrome activist John Davidson, whose life was the basis for multi-award-winning I Swear, and asked for their understanding.
During the ceremony, Davidson shouted “paedo” after Cumming’s joke about his sexuality, yelled “shut the fuck up” during an address by Bafta chair Sara Putt, and was heard to say the N-word as Sinners actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo took to the stage.
Later in the ceremony, Cumming apologised for offence caused and thanked the audience for their understanding. While some of Davidson’s tics were removed from the TV broadcast two hours later, one of the racial slurs was not, despite ample time for an edit, and other controversial moments being removed, including Akinola Davies Jr’s cry of “Free Palestine” at the end of his speech.
