Activist Shouts N-Word at Michael B. Jordan During Award Ceremony

The BAFTA Film Awards took an uncomfortable turn Sunday night when a Tourette Syndrome activist was heard shouting a racial slur during a live telecast moment featuring Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo.

The incident happened as Jordan and Lindo were onstage presenting the award for Best Visual Effects, which ultimately went to Avatar: Fire and Ash. As the two actors delivered their lines, an audience member — later identified as activist John Davidson — yelled out the N-word, creating a tense and highly visible disruption during the global broadcast.

Despite the shocking interruption, both Jordan and Lindo remained composed and continued the presentation without acknowledging the outburst. Viewers at home could sense the awkwardness in the room, but the show pressed forward.

Host Alan Cumming later addressed the moment directly.

“Tourette Syndrome is a disability and the tics you’ve heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette Syndrome has no control over their language,” Cumming told the audience. “We apologize if you are offended tonight.”

Davidson, who was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at age 25, has been open about his condition and is known in advocacy circles. He is also the real-life inspiration behind the BAFTA-nominated film I Swear, which centers on living with severe vocal tics.

The slur was not the only disruption of the night. Throughout the ceremony, Davidson reportedly shouted other profanities, including “shut the fk up” toward BAFTA chair Sara Putt and “fk you” after the directing team behind Arco won Best Children’s and Family Film.

But it was the racial slur — shouted during Black History Month — that drew the strongest reaction inside the venue and across social media.

According to Variety, Davidson ultimately removed himself from the ceremony after the incident.

The moment has already sparked debate online about disability awareness, live-event protocols, and how award shows handle unpredictable situations in an era of global, real-time broadcasts.

As of now, BAFTA has not released any additional statement beyond Cumming’s onstage apology.