A Bafta judge has announced he will step down in the wake of backlash against the way the institution handled a Tourette’s campaigner shouting out a racial slur during Sunday’s ceremony.
Jonte Richardson, an award-winning writer, director, and producer ,decided to withdraw from the Bafta emerging talent judging panel after the controversial incident.
Throughout Sunday night’s show, John Davidson, who was diagnosed with Tourette’s aged 25 and whose symptoms involve outbursts including swearing, could be heard yelling out from his seat during the ceremony.
He was in attendance because the film I Swear – for which Robert Aramayo won the best actor award at the ceremony – is based on Davidson’s life.
At one point, he shouted, ‘shut the f**k up’ during a speech from Bafta chair Sara Putt and yelled ‘f**k you’ when Arco’s directors took to the stage, as well as several reported shouts of the N-word, including at Sinners actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan while they were presenting an award.
As explained by the NHS, Tourette’s is a condition that causes people to make sudden, repetitive sounds or movements, known as tics.
Following the incident, the BBC removed the entire awards ceremony broadcast from iPlayer after facing backlash for not cutting the moment – despite it removing a director’s plea to ‘Free Palestine’ elsewhere in the broadcast.
A spokesperson for the broadcaster wrote: ‘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.’
Richardson, who has worked across the US and UK in film and music, wrote of his decision to quit as a Bafta judge on LinkedIn: ‘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. I cannot and will not contribute my time energy and expertise to an organisation that has repeatedly failed to safeguard the dignity of its Black guests, members and the Black creative community.
‘This is particularly unfortunate given that this year’s cohort boasts some incredible Black talent, especially one of my favourite shows of 2025 ‘Just Act Normal’.
‘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.
‘I hope Bafta leadership comprehend the damage they and the BBC have caused and take the necessary steps to ensure their production staff are inclusive enough to prevent such an issue in the future.’
He made the post prior to John Richardson’s apology for the outburst, in which he wrote that he is ‘deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning.’
Davidson said: ‘I wanted to thank Bafta and everyone involved in the awards last night for their support and understanding and inviting me to attend the broadcast.
‘I appreciated the announcement to the auditorium in advance of the recording, warning everyone that my tics are involuntary and are not a reflection of my personal beliefs.
‘I was heartened by the round of applause that followed this announcement and felt welcomed and understood in an environment that would normally be impossible for me.’
Baftas host Alan Cumming also addressed the outbursts during an apology in the ceremony, which he was fronting for the first time on Sunday night, as a whole host of A-listers filled the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London.
Referring to this, Davidson continued: ‘In addition to the announcement by Alan Cumming, the BBC and Bafta, I can only add that I am, and always have been deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning.
‘I was in attendance to celebrate the film of my life, I Swear, which more than any film or TV documentary, explains the origins, condition, traits and manifestations of Tourette syndrome.
‘I have spent my life trying to support and empower the Tourette’s community and to teach empathy, kindness and understanding from others and I will continue to do so.
I chose to leave the auditorium early into the ceremony as I was aware of the distress my tics were causing.’
Davidson’s comments come after Del Roy Lindo told Vanity Fair that he and Jordan ‘did what we had to do’ while presenting, but that he also wished ‘someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterward.’
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