The 2026 BAFTA Film Awards broadcast is still catching heat after viewers learned that “Free Palestine” remarks were edited out, while other moments made it to air.
During the delayed BBC One broadcast, a racial slur shouted by John Davidson, who has Tourette’s syndrome, was not cut before airing. At the same time, viewers noticed that “Free Palestine,” said by outstanding British debut winner Akinola Davies Jr, had been removed from the final edit.
That contrast set social media off. BBC producers said they were overseeing the ceremony from a truck and “simply did not hear the slur.” The corporation later issued a statement: “Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the Bafta film awards. This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony, it was not intentional. We apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast, and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called it a “horrible mistake” and added, “It should have been bleeped, because I was told that there were two other things that were bleeped … people shouting Free Palestine.”
Meanwhile, host Alan Cumming told the audience: “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. We apologise if you are offended tonight.”
The BBC has since re-edited the broadcast. Still, questions remain about editorial decisions, consistency, and what gets protected in post-production.
