Filmmaker Jonte Richardson quits as BAFTA judge over handling of racist slur at awards ceremony | Ents & Arts News

Filmmaker Jonte Richardson has stepped down as a BAFTA emerging talent judge over the organisation’s handling of a racial slur shouted during the film awards.

He said BAFTA has “repeatedly failed” to safeguard the black community.

Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson, who was attending the awards ceremony after inspiring the film, I Swear, which dramatises his life with severe Tourette syndrome, has said he’s “deeply mortified” his involuntary ticks caused him to yell out.

He shouted a racial slur while two black actors, Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo, were on stage presenting the first award of the night.

Richardson said he was stepping down as a BAFTA judge on Monday, over the academy’s handling of the incident.

The ceremony, which had been edited down from three hours to two after taking place on Sunday night, was broadcast with the offending moment intact, and remained available to watch on BBC iPlayer for over 12 hours.

Other moments, including director Akinola Davies Jr call to “free Palestine,” and filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson’s use of the word “p***” were edited out.

The broadcaster subsequently took the recording down to edit out the slur.

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Richardson said he would no longer serve on the emerging talent judging panel due to the organisation’s handling of “the unfortunate Tourette’s N-Word incident”.

Calling it “utterly unforgivable,” the producer and director went on: “I cannot and will not contribute my time, energy and expertise to an organisation that has repeatedly failed to safeguard the dignity of its Black guests, members and the Black creative community.

“This is particularly unfortunate given that this year’s cohort boasts some incredible Black talent, especially one of my favourite shows of 2025 Just Act Normal.”

In a statement released on Monday night, BAFTA apologised for the incident and said it takes “full responsibility” for putting its guests in a “difficult situation”.

They apologised “unreservedly” to Sinners stars Jordan and Lindo, and “to all those impacted,” adding: “We would like to thank Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism.”

The statement continued: “We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation and we apologise to all.

“We will learn from this and keep inclusion at the core of all we do, maintaining our belief in film and storytelling as a critical conduit for compassion and empathy.”

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Earlier on Monday, the BBC apologised for not removing the slur, saying in a statement: “Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the Bafta Film Awards.

“This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional.

“We apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer.”

The host, Alan Cumming, subsequently acknowledged the interruption and explained again about Tourette’s.

Richardson has worked in both the UK and the US on projects including Channel 4’s Bluefinch and award-winning productions for BET and HBO. He became a BAFTA member in 2011.

In a statement to the Press Association, Davidson said he chose to leave the auditorium early as he was “aware of the distress my tics were causing”.

He was made an MBE in 2019 for his efforts to increase understanding of Tourette syndrome, having helped countless families deal with the condition.

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Sky News spoke to Davidson ahead of the film’s release

What is Tourette’s?

According to the NHS, Tourette syndrome is a condition that causes you to make sudden, repetitive sounds or movements – called tics.

There is no cure for the condition, but it can be managed through treatment. Tics can be triggered by stress, excitement or tiredness.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention adds that only around one in 10 people with the condition suffer from coprolalia, where a tic is the excessive or uncontrollable use of inappropriate language.

It comes after British newcomer Robert Aramayo won best actor at the BAFTA, beating Timothee Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio, with his performance in I Swear.

The film tells Davidson’s real-life story, based on his 2025 memoir of the same name.

Sky News has contacted BAFTA for comment.