Baftas host Alan Cumming criticises BBC for ‘broadcasting slurs and censoring free speech’
‘What should have been an evening celebrating diversity and inclusion turned into a trauma-triggering shitshow,’ says host after racial epithet was left in the broadcast
Alan Cumming has joined the chorus of disapproval at the BBC’s failure to edit out a racial slur from their Baftas telecast, saying it turned “what should have been an evening celebrating diversity and inclusion into a trauma-triggering shitshow”.
Before the live event, Cumming warned the audience that disturbances might occur on account of the involuntary tics of Tourette syndrome activist John Davidson, whose life was the basis for multi-award-winning I Swear, and asked for their understanding.
During the ceremony, Davidson shouted “paedo” after Cumming’s joke about his sexuality, yelled “shut the fuck up” during an address by Bafta chair Sara Putt, and was heard to say the N-word as Sinners actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo took to the stage.
Later in the ceremony, Cumming apologised for offence caused and thanked the audience for their understanding. While some of Davidson’s tics were removed from the TV broadcast two hours later, one of the racial slurs was not, despite ample time for an edit, and other controversial moments being removed, including Akinola Davies Jr’s cry of “Free Palestine” at the end of his speech.
Writing on Instagram, Cumming said: “It’s now a week since I hosted the Baftas. What should have been an evening celebrating creativity as well as diversity and inclusion turned into a trauma-triggering shitshow.
“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.”
He added: “We were all let down by decisions made to both broadcast slurs and censor free speech.”
Cumming’s criticism of the broadcaster follows that of Davidson and I Swear production company StudioCanal, both of whom say they were assured the broadcaster would cut all swearing from the live broadcast.
Sinners studio Warner Bros also said it was assured by Bafta that the N-word would be removed from the telecast after raising it with the academy immediately after the incident.
The fallout from the ceremony has been considerable, with Bafta telling members it would undertake a “comprehensive review” of what happened as well as apologising “unreservedly” to Lindo and Jordan.
In an internal note to staff, the BBC’s chief content officer said she took “full responsibility” for the failure to edit out the word, and said that it was removed from iPlayer as soon as she was aware of it. A re-edited version is now available, but the original version was online for about 20 hours, and clips widely circulated.
Speaking over the weekend, Lindo expressed gratitude for “the support and love” offered to him and Jordan since the incident, which he called “a classic case of something that could be very negative becoming very positive”.
His words were echoed by Cumming in his post, saying “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”.
Cumming’s remarks nonetheless suggest that Bafta may be seeking a new host, after a run of emcees whose stints overseeing the ceremony have been short-lived and were widely criticised.