News | Entertainment
27 Feb 2026 22:21
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    BAFTA has launched a "comprehensive review" of its 2026 Film Awards ceremony

    The British Academy has sent a letter to its members responding to the controversy after Tourette's campaigner John Davidson shouted the N-word while Sinners co-stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage during Sunday's (22.02.26) ceremony, which was hosted by Alan Cumming.


    In a letter to its members, BAFTA said: "We are in contact with the studios involved and conversations are ongoing.

    "We want to assure all our members that a comprehensive review is underway. You may have also seen the BBC have issued their own apology for the broadcast.

    "It was a very complex situation and we understand you will have many questions - please rest assured how seriously we are taking this."

    Any members who want to contact the organisation are advised to email

    membership@bafta.org.

    The detail of the investigation wasn't included in the initial public statement released on Monday (23.02.26), in which the organisation took "full responsibility" for the incident.

    During the ceremony, John - whose life is the inspiration for the film I Swear - shouted the N-word while Michael and Delroy were presenting an award.

    BAFTA said: "We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation and we apologise to all.

    "We will learn from this, and keep inclusion at the core of all we do, maintaining our belief in film and storytelling as a critical conduit for compassion and empathy."

    They continued: "Early in the ceremony a loud tic in the form of a profoundly offensive term was heard by many people in the room.

    "Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage at the time, and we apologise unreservedly to them, and to all those impacted.

    "We would like to thank Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism.

    "During the ceremony, John chose to leave the auditorium and watch the rest of the ceremony from a screen, and we would like to thank him for his dignity and consideration of others, on what should have been a night of celebration for him."

    Meanwhile, John has released his own statement saying he is "deeply mortified", while he has given an interview questioning part of the production on the night.

    He told Variety: "StudioCanal were working closely with BAFTA, and BAFTA had made us all aware that any swearing would be edited out of the broadcast.

    "I have made four documentaries with the BBC in the past, and feel that they should have been aware of what to expect from Tourette's and worked harder to prevent anything that I said - which, after all, was some 40 rows back from the stage - from being included in the broadcast.

    "As I reflect on the auditorium, I remember there was a microphone just in front of me, and with hindsight I have to question whether this was wise, so close to where I was seated, knowing I would tic."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     27 Feb: Drew Barrymore travels down "memory lane" when looking at pictures of herself from her 1990s heyday
     27 Feb: Cruz Beckham's 21st birthday celebrations have gone on for a week
     27 Feb: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived at the World Health Organisation's country office in Amman
     27 Feb: Jameela Jamil has called out women at the BAFTAs for being "scarily thin"
     27 Feb: Sinitta has described her marriage to Andy Willner as a "revenge move" aimed at Simon Cowell
     27 Feb: Jennifer Garner has spoken candidly about the realities of co-parenting her three children with her former husband
     27 Feb: Martin Short endured a series of personal tragedies before the death of his daughter Katherine Hartley Short - including the deaths of his parents, brother and former wife
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Fa'alogo Tana Umaga is reminding his players the only thing they can control is their own effort More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    The Commerce Commission has issued guidance on changes to gift card rules More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    A 26 year old will face court after allegedly trying to steal a necklace worth more than 70 thousand dollars from Auckland's CBD 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Drew Barrymore travels down "memory lane" when looking at pictures of herself from her 1990s heyday 21:51

    Entertainment:
    Cruz Beckham's 21st birthday celebrations have gone on for a week 21:21

    Rugby:
    Fa'alogo Tana Umaga is reminding his players the only thing they can control is their own effort 21:17

    Entertainment:
    The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived at the World Health Organisation's country office in Amman 20:51

    Entertainment:
    Jameela Jamil has called out women at the BAFTAs for being "scarily thin" 20:21

    Entertainment:
    Sinitta has described her marriage to Andy Willner as a "revenge move" aimed at Simon Cowell 19:51

    Entertainment:
    Jennifer Garner has spoken candidly about the realities of co-parenting her three children with her former husband 19:21

    Soccer:
    A huge 8-nil win over Samoa for the Football Ferns in their Fifa World Cup qualifier in Honiara 18:57

    Politics:
    An economist says benefit sanctions aren't working 18:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd