John Davidson, who was the inspiration for the BAFTA-nominated film “I Swear,” was heard shouting “Shut up” and “Fuck you” during the ceremony. When Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the award for best visual effects for “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” Davidson also shouted the N-word.
The comment was included in the BBC's broadcast of the ceremony, which aired with a two-hour delay. On Monday, the broadcaster apologized and removed the broadcast from its streaming service.
Tourette syndrome is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by motor or vocal tics, which in some cases include uncontrolled swearing.
"You may have noticed some strong language in the background. It may be part of how Tourette's syndrome manifests itself for some people, which the film explores. Thank you for your understanding," said BAFTA host Alan Cumming during the ceremony.
Corrected: In a previous version there was an error about the movie "I Swear".
