An activist with Tourette syndrome has stated that Bafta and the BBC were forewarned about his condition and had assured him any offensive language would be removed from the broadcast of the recent film awards.
The individual, who attended the ceremony due to a nominated film inspired by his life, was heard shouting several slurs during the event. The broadcast, which aired on a delay, included an audible racial slur as two actors were presenting an award, sparking widespread criticism of the organisers and broadcaster for failing to edit it out.
In a statement, the activist expressed profound distress over the incident, emphasising that the words shouted were involuntary neurological symptoms, completely detached from his personal beliefs or intent. He described the condition as causing his body or voice to act without his consent, sometimes landing on the most harmful possible terms.
He further noted that multiple offensive words were shouted throughout the evening, not just the single slur that has dominated headlines. He provided context for one instance, explaining that a joke made by the host about a children’s character triggered an unrelated and involuntary shout.
The fallout has been significant. Bafta has announced a comprehensive review of the incident, while the BBC has issued apologies. A Bafta judge has resigned in protest over the handling of the matter, labelling it “utterly unforgivable.” The film studio involved has also stated it alerted both organisations to the issue during the broadcast, but no action was taken.
The activist has reportedly reached out to the affected presenters to apologise personally, reiterating that the tics are not a reflection of his character. He has worked with the broadcaster on previous projects and expressed disappointment that more wasn’t done to mitigate the situation, given their prior awareness of his condition.
