BBC upholds complaints over racial slur in Baftas broadcast

BBC Confirms Racial Slur Incident at Baftas Met Editorial Standards

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has confirmed that the inclusion of a racial slur during the February Bafta Film Awards ceremony violated its editorial guidelines. The incident occurred when a Tourette syndrome advocate unintentionally used the n-word while actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were hosting a category. The unedited moment was broadcast on BBC One with a two-hour delay and remained accessible on iPlayer for 24 hours after the event.

Speaking on Wednesday, BBC’s chief content officer Kate Phillips stated that the executive complaints unit (ECU) determined the slip was a “clear breach of editorial standards” but emphasized the error was “not intentional.” The ECU received numerous complaints about the coverage and upheld those linked to harm and offense caused by the incident.

“The ECU found that the inclusion of the n-word in the broadcast was highly offensive, had no editorial justification, and represented a breach of the BBC’s editorial standards, but that the breach was unintentional.”

Phillips noted that the production team “did not hear the n-word at the time it was said” and “made no decision to retain the word.” She highlighted that the team “correctly identified and edited out a subsequent use of the same word” in line with pre-established protocols for handling offensive language. However, the ECU criticized the delay in removing the unedited version from iPlayer, calling it a “serious mistake” that worsened the impact of the slip.

Phillips explained that “lack of clarity” among the event team regarding the audibility of the slur led to the prolonged availability of the unedited recording. “The ECU has been clear that this was a serious mistake,” she added, “and noted that the unedited version staying online overnight intensified the offense caused by the inadvertent inclusion.”

The BBC has pledged to enhance its pre-event planning and iPlayer takedown procedures. Phillips apologized directly to Delroy Lindo, Michael B Jordan, Wunmi Mosaku, and Tourette’s activist John Davidson. Mosaku shared that the incident had “kept her awake at night and brought tears to her eyes,” while Davidson questioned why he was positioned near a microphone.

Other Complaints Addressed by ECU

Separately, the ECU reviewed complaints about the BBC editing the phrase “Free Palestine” from an acceptance speech by director Akinola Davies Jr. Davies Jr. and his brother Wale, the film’s writer, delivered a two-and-a-half-minute speech, but it was condensed to one minute for broadcast. The ECU supported the BBC’s explanation, stating the edits were “due to time restrictions” and not driven by bias.

“The production team’s decision did not hinge on considerations of impartiality. The principal consideration was that approximately three hours of recorded material had to be edited to fit a two-hour transmission slot.”

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy condemned the incident as “completely unacceptable and harmful,” while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described it as a “horrible mistake.” Bafta host Alan Cumming also apologized for the “trauma-triggering” nature of the event. The BBC reiterated its commitment to refining its processes to prevent similar issues in the future.