The 79th British Academy Film Awards on February 22, 2026, were overshadowed by a shocking moment during the live broadcast. While presenters Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo stood on stage to honor their peers, a racial slur was shouted from the audience. The person responsible was identified as John Davidson, a campaigner with Tourette syndrome who was attending the prestigious ceremony.

The BBC faced immediate backlash for airing the slur without a delay or filter. Both the broadcaster and BAFTA released statements of apology shortly after the ceremony concluded. According to official reports, the organizations expressed deep regret that the offensive language reached the millions of viewers watching the event at home.

The fallout from the ceremony continues to spark debate among the stars involved. Host Alan Cumming publicly criticized the BBC’s handling of the situation and its failure to manage the live audio. Meanwhile, Delroy Lindo voiced his own frustration, telling reporters he was disappointed by the lack of direct, personal communication from BAFTA leadership in the days following the incident.