• The 2026 British Academy Film Awards—aka the BAFTAs—took place in London on Sunday, Feb. 22.
  • Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were heckled by an audience member with Tourette’s, who called them racial slurs while they presented an award.
  • Host Alan Cumming issued a public apology on behalf of the heckler.

Awards season is still in full swing, with the British Academy Film Awards (aka the BAFTAs) being the latest show honoring the best in film and television this year. Of course, each ceremony brings its own drama, whether it’s planned or not—and the BAFTAs are no exception.

As Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the award for Best Visual Effects to Avatar: Fire & Ash, Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson issued a loud involuntary tic, which happened to be the N-word. The actors took an uncomfortable moment of silence before continuing to present the award.

At Warner Brothers’ BAFTAs after party, Delroy told Vanity Fair that he and Michael “did what we had to do” while presenting after the slur was yelled but that he wished “someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterwards.”

Per Variety, the BBC and E! (which broadcast the show in the U.S.) didn’t censor or edit out the N-word, despite the tape-delayed broadcast…and it wasn’t John’s only outburst from the show, either. During an introductory speech from BAFTA chair Sara Putt, John yelled “shut the fuck up,” and later shouted “fuck you” as Boong’s directors accepted their award for Best Children’s and Family film.

At one point during the show, host Alan Cumming even took a moment on stage to address the tics.

“You may have noticed some strong language in the background. This can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people as the film explores that experience. Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone,” Cumming told the audience, referring to the BAFTA-nominated film, I Swear, loosely based on John’s life.

The Traitors host later added, “Tourette’s Syndrome is a disability and the tics you’ve heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette’s Syndrome has no control over their language. We apologize if you are offended tonight.”

Robert Aramayo, who played John in I Swear, also weighed in on the situation, telling the BBC, “Well, first of all, they’re tics. He’s ticking, and we have to understand that the way we perceive Tourette’s is a joint responsibility. It’s not shouting obscenities, it’s not being abusive. It’s Tourette’s, and they’re tics.”

He added, “If it can lead to a deeper understanding of Tourette’s Syndrome and what tics actually are, I think our movie is a part of that conversation and that’s a really incredible thing.”

After the show aired Sunday night, a BBC spokesperson released a statement to NBC News, saying, “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 apologize for any offense caused by the language heard.”

The BBC also revealed that the moment will be removed from its iPlayer streamer and issued an apology for not editing it out before the broadcast.