The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has issued its first official response following an unfortunate event last night, where an offensive racial term was uttered during a segment involving Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo. See the full statement below.
“In the incident that occurred, we acknowledge our fault in placing our invitees in an uncomfortable position, and we extend our apologies to everyone,” BAFTA remarked. “This incident will serve as a learning experience for us to continue prioritizing inclusivity in all our activities, reinforcing our commitment to cinema and narrative as vital avenues for fostering understanding and empathy.”
The organization explicitly “offers its sincere apologies” to both Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo.
“We extend our gratitude towards Michael and Delroy for their grace and professionalism during the incident,” the statement commended.
Furthermore, BAFTA confirmed that John Davidson, another guest, opted to exit the auditorium and watched the remaining ceremony on a screen following the episode.
“We thank him for his respect and consideration for others on what was meant to be a celebratory evening for him,” said BAFTA in their statement.
Below is the full statement from BAFTA:
During last night’s BAFTA Film Awards, our attendees were unfortunately exposed to deeply offensive language that has significant traumatic implications for many. We wish to recognize the distress this caused, detail the circumstances, and express our apologies to everyone affected.
One of our attendees, John Davidson MBE, who has Tourette’s syndrome, has spent his life working to raise awareness and understanding of the condition. Tourette’s Syndrome causes involuntary verbal tics which the person cannot control. These tics do not reflect the person’s true beliefs or intentions. John Davidson is an executive producer for the BAFTA-nominated film, I Swear, which draws from his own life experiences.
We are committed to caring for all our guests and operate with inclusivity as our foundational principle. We had informed the audience prior to and during the start of the ceremony that John was present and that involuntary language, noises, or movements might occur.
At the beginning of the ceremony, a loud outburst involving a severely offensive word was heard by many attendees. At that moment, Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage. We unreservedly apologize to them and all those affected. We are grateful to Michael and Delroy for their remarkable poise and professionalism.
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