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BBC and host apologize after racial slur shouted during BAFTA awards by guest with Tourette’s
Host Alan Cumming apologized after John Davidson’s involuntary Tourette’s tics, including a racial slur, aired unedited during the BAFTA ceremony, sparking public debate.
- On Sunday, John Davidson, Tourette's campaigner and inspiration for I Swear, was audible on BBC One shouting a racial slur as Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented at the BAFTA Film Awards.
- Campaigners and medical explanations point to involuntary verbal tics from Tourette's syndrome, while organisers had warned the audience that involuntary noises or movements might occur.
- Technical checks show the tics were picked up by venue microphones, the two-hour delayed broadcast carried them, and the clip briefly remained on BBC iPlayer before removal.
- Critics demanded explanations and called for bleeping pre-recorded shows after Ed Palmer, vice chairman of Tourettes Action, suggested it while Kemi Badenoch, Conservative Party leader, called the BBC `a horrible mistake`.
- Beyond the ceremony, the incident highlighted the film I Swear and experts noted coprolalia affects between 10% to 30% of people with Tourette's, prompting calls for public education.
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources164
Leaning Left52Leaning Right20Center47Last UpdatedBias Distribution44% Left
Bias Distribution
- 44% of the sources lean Left
44% Left
L 44%
C 39%
R 17%
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