Baftas host Alan Cumming criticises BBC for "broadcasting slurs and censoring free speech"

Actor and Baftas host Alan Cumming has criticised the BBC for the recent failure to edit out a racial slur from their Baftas telecast.

"What should have been an evening celebrating creativity as well as diversity and inclusion turned into a trauma-triggering shitshow," said Cumming on Instagram.

"I’m so sorry for all the pain Black people have felt hearing that word echoed round the world. I’m so sorry the [Tourette’s] community has been reminded of the lack of understanding and tolerance that abounds regarding their condition".

"We were all let down by decisions made to both broadcast slurs and censor free speech," he added.

Before the live event, Cumming warned the audience that involuntary tics of Tourette syndrome activist John Davidson, whose life was the basis for multi-award-winning I Swear, might occur.

During the ceremony, Davidson said the N-word, when Sinners actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage. The activist also shouted "paedo" after Cumming’s joke about his sexuality, and "shut the fuck up" during a speech by Bafta chair Sara Putt.

Later in the ceremony, Cumming apologised for offence caused and thanked the audience for understanding.

Cumming’s criticism of the broadcaster follows that of Davidson and I Swear production company StudioCanal. Both said that they were assured the broadcaster would cut all swearing from the live show.

In a note to staff, the BBC’s chief content officer Kate Phillips said she took "full responsibility" for the failure to edit out the word, assuring that it was removed from iPlayer as soon as she found out.

The original version of the broadcast was online for about 20 hours before it was edited. The applied changes also included the removal of an acceptance speech from brothers Wale Davies and Akinola Davies Jr that expressed support for Palestine, as well as a joke by Cumming that suggested the US was in a state of dire peril.

Lindo expressed gratitude for "the support and love" offered to him and Jordan since the incident, calling it "a classic case of something that could be very negative becoming very positive".

His words were brought up by Cumming in his post, saying that "the only possible good that could come of this is a reminder that words matter, that rushing to judgment about things of which we are not fully cognisant is folly, that all trauma must be recognised and honoured".

Davidson also addressed the controversy, saying: "I want people to know and understand that my tics have absolutely nothing to do with what I think, feel or believe".

"It’s an involuntary neurological misfire. My tics are not an intention, not a choice and not a reflection of my values."

Since the incident, filmmaker Jonte Richardson announced that he would be stepping down as a BAFTA judge over the organisation's response to the airing of the racial slur.

"When an organisation like BAFTA, with its own long history of systemic racism, refuses to acknowledge the harm inflicted on both the Black and disabled communities and offer an appropriate apology, remaining involved would be tantamount to condoning its behaviour," said Richardson on LinkedIn.

See Cumming's Instagram post below:

 

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