Michael B. Jordan BAFTAs incident left the actor visibly shaken after a racial slur was shouted from the audience while he presented at the BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday night. The moment unfolded at London’s Royal Festival Hall, where Jordan and his Sinners co-star Delroy Lindo were on stage to present the award for Best Visual Effects.
Reports indicate that John Davidson, a campaigner for Tourette syndrome awareness, shouted the N-word during the live ceremony. The remark caused immediate reactions, with audible gasps from the audience and stunned silence as Jordan and Lindo maintained their composure on stage.
Following the event, the BBC removed the full ceremony from iPlayer after criticism over the unedited moment. Social media and entertainment outlets questioned why other politically sensitive comments had been edited out while this incident was left intact.
Lindo, speaking to Vanity Fair, said he and Jordan “did what we had to do” while presenting the award. He added that he wished “someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterward,” signaling frustration at the lack of direct follow-up from the organizers. A source close to Jordan told Metro that the 39-year-old actor was “repulsed by the outburst.” Jordan’s preparation for his role in Sinners, which involved extensive research into the psychological impact of racism, made the incident particularly unsettling. The film, set in 1932 Mississippi during the Jim Crow era, directly addresses the historical traumas of racial terror, making the audience outburst feel especially personal to Jordan and the communities represented in the story.
Davidson later issued an apology, explaining that his involuntary verbal tics were not intended to offend. He stated he was “deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning.” BAFTA host Alan Cumming addressed the incident on stage, highlighting the challenges of Tourette syndrome and expressing gratitude to attendees for their understanding.
Despite this context, the broadcast decision drew ongoing criticism online. Some viewers questioned why the offensive language was aired, while others debated the broader implications of live ceremonies and the responsibility of organizers to anticipate sensitive incidents. The BBC issued a formal apology, acknowledging the “strong and offensive language” had been broadcast and confirmed that the moment would be removed from on-demand versions of the ceremony.
BAFTA released a direct statement to Jordan and Lindo, stating: “Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage at the time, and we apologise unreservedly to them, and to all those impacted. We would like to thank Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism.” The acknowledgment highlighted the actors’ composure amid a tense and highly publicized moment.
The controversy did not overshadow the success of Sinners, written and directed by Ryan Coogler. The film won Best Supporting Actress for Wunmi Mosaku, Best Original Score for Ludwig Göransson, and Best Original Screenplay for Coogler. Coogler’s win marked the first time a Black filmmaker received the award for Best Original Screenplay. Sinners was also a leading contender across the ceremony, securing 13 BAFTA nominations and 16 Oscar nominations earlier in the awards season.
The film’s triumph serves as a reminder of the continued evolution of representation and recognition in film, even as incidents like the BAFTAs outburst expose lingering challenges in addressing racial sensitivities in public spaces. For Jordan, the moment underscored the intersection of art, history, and lived experience, reflecting the emotional weight that actors carry when portraying stories rooted in racial trauma.
