Entertainment
Jamie Foxx slams Tourette’s activist’s N-word outburst at BAFTAs 2026
BAFTAs backlash.
Jamie Foxx called out Tourette’s activist John Davidson for yelling a racial slur while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award at the BAFTA Awards 2026 on Sunday.
Foxx, 58, commented on an Instagram clip of the controversial moment, calling it “unacceptable.”
“nah he meant that s–t,” the Oscar winner wrote. “Out of all the words, you could’ve said Tourette’s makes you say that?”
Davidson hurled the N-word when Jordan, 39, and Lindo, 73, were presenting the award for best visual effects to “Avatar: Fire and Ash” on Sunday.
BAFTA Awards host Alan Cumming apologized for the incident, which wasn’t edited out of the BBC One broadcast.
“You may have noticed some strong language in the background. This can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people as the film explores that experience,” Cumming told the audience.
The “Traitors” host also noted that “Tourette’s syndrome is a disability” and that “the tics you’ve heard tonight are involuntary.”
“Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone,” Cumming, 61, added.
The BBC also released a statement apologizing for the incident, with a spokesperson saying, “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,” the statement added.
Other stars who have reacted to Davidson’s use of the racial slur include “Sinners” production designer Hannah Beachler and “The Wire” alum Wendell Pierce.
“The situation is almost impossible, but it happened 3 times that night, and one of the three times was directed at myself on the way to dinner after the show,” Beachler claimed on X after the ceremony.
“I understand and deeply know why this is an impossible situation. I know we must handle this with grace and continue to push through,” the 55-year-old added. “But what made the situation worse was the throw away apology of ‘if you were offended’ at the end of the show. Of course we were offended.”
Pierce, meanwhile, called the situation “infuriating” that the “first reactions” from those involved weren’t “complete and full throatted [sic] apologies” to Jordan and Lindo.
“The insult to them takes priority,” the 62-year-old added. “It doesn’t matter the reasoning for the racist slur.”
Page Six has reached out to reps for Jordan and Lindo.
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