Bafta judge and filmmaker quits role over handling of racial slur at ceremony

"After considerable soul-searching, I feel compelled to withdraw from the Bafta emerging talent judging panel. The organisation's handling of the unfortunate Tourette's N-word incident last night at the awards was utterly unforgivable."

"However, when an organisation like Bafta, with its own long history of systemic racism, refuses to acknowledge the harm inflicted on both the Black and disabled communities and offer an appropriate apology, remaining involved would be tantamount to condoning its behaviour."

"The organisation's handling of the unfortunate Tourette's N-word incident last night at the awards was utterly unforgivable. He continued, expressing his inability to contribute to an organisation that has repeatedly failed to safeguard the dignity of its Black guests, members and the Black creative community."

During the Bafta film awards ceremony at London's Royal Festival Hall, Tourette's campaigner John Davidson shouted a racial slur while Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented an award. Davidson stated the outburst was an involuntary tic. Filmmaker Jonte Richardson subsequently resigned from Bafta's emerging talent judging panel, criticizing the organization's handling of the incident as utterly unforgivable. Richardson stated that Bafta repeatedly failed to safeguard the dignity of Black guests, members, and the creative community. He emphasized that remaining involved would condone the organization's behavior, particularly given Bafta's history of systemic racism and its failure to offer appropriate apologies to both Black and disabled communities.

Read at The Independent