Bafta fell short in duty of care when racial slur was shouted, review finds
Bafta fell short in duty of care when racial slur was shouted, review finds
An independent assessment has revealed that the British Academy Film Awards (Bafta) failed to uphold its responsibility to attendees, members, and audiences during February’s ceremony. While the incident involved an involuntary use of a racial slur, the review concluded there was no deliberate intent behind it.
Incident at the ceremony
John Davidson, a Tourette’s campaigner, unintentionally uttered the n-word while Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage. The review noted that the organization had not “adequately anticipated or fully prepared for the impact of such an incident in a live event environment.” Bafta acknowledged that its duty of care to everyone present and watching at home was compromised, but emphasized the lack of malicious intent.
“We accept the conclusions in full,” said Bafta. “What was supposed to be a moment of celebration was diminished and overshadowed.”
BBC investigation and response
The publication of the report follows the BBC’s own probe into the incident, which was released earlier this week. The corporation’s complaints unit determined the broadcast violated its editorial standards and should not have aired, though it was not intentional.
Structural weaknesses identified
The independent review, conducted by Rise Associates, highlighted “a number of structural weaknesses in Bafta’s planning, escalation procedures, and crisis coordination arrangements.” Despite this, the report stated there was no evidence of malicious intent from those involved. Bafta admitted its systems had “not kept pace” with its diversity and inclusion objectives.
“The available evidence does not support that conclusion here,” the review added. “Instead, the evidence suggests something different: Bafta’s planning and risk governance systems have not kept pace with its diversity goals.”
Broader implications and perspectives
The incident underscored a larger issue: the challenge of balancing accessibility for participants with the safety and dignity of others. The review stressed that describing the event as proof of institutional racism would overlook a key point. “Institutional racism means that racial bias is embedded in systems, policies, and culture,” it explained. “Discriminatory outcomes occur regardless of individual intent.”
Personal accounts and apologies
Following the ceremony, Lindo told Vanity Fair that he and Jordan, who were presenting an award, “did what we had to do” as they continued without interruption. However, he expressed a wish that “someone from Bafta spoke to us afterward.” Davidson, in an interview with Variety, clarified: “The intent behind them [the tics] is zero. What you’re hearing is a symptom—not my character, not my thought, not my belief.”
“Tourette’s can feel spiteful and searches out the most upsetting tic for me personally and those around me,” he explained. “What you hear me shouting is literally the last thing in the world I believe; it is the opposite of what I believe.”
Bafta pledged to address areas for improvement to prevent future occurrences. The organization also expressed regret for the “trauma-triggering” nature of the event and apologized unreservedly to the black community, the disabled community, and all participants and viewers.
