BBC Edited Out Second Racial Slur From BAFTA Fim Awards

A second racial slur was edited out of the BAFTA Film Awards coverage by the BBC on Sunday, according to the corporation’s head of content.

Kate Phillips emailed staff this afternoon to apologize and reveal that a second slur was removed from the broadcast, which aired two hours after the live ceremony on BBC One.

The BBC has been criticized from all quarters including leading politicians for failing to edit out the N-word from its BBC One broadcast after it was shouted from the audience involuntarily by Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson to the stars of Sinners, who were onstage.

Phillips said, “The edit team removed another racial slur from the broadcast.”

“This one was aired in error and we would never have knowingly allowed this to be broadcast,” said Phillips of the N-word SNAFU. “We take full responsibility for what happened. When I was made aware it was audible on iPlayer, I asked for it to be taken down. As I’m sure you’re aware we put out a statement yesterday morning apologising that the remark was not edited out prior to broadcast.”

The BBC and producer Penny Lane’s line has been that the slur was not heard in the OB truck recording the coverage. It still took the BBC 15 hours to take the awards coverage off iPlayer, and as of this afternoon, it remains down.

“I’m so sorry that a racial slur was not edited out of our broadcast,” added Phillips. “We understand how distressing this was. Award attendees were pre-warned about the possibility of involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome at the start of the show, and Alan Cumming addressed it during the broadcast. Of course, this doesn’t lessen the impact and upset.”

Phillips said she has been in touch with BBC staffers in the Embrace network. BAFTA also has launched a review. Davidson, the subject of the movie I Swear, which won best actor for Robert Aramayo, has said he is “deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning.”