BBC Faces Probe After Racial Slur Heard on TV

The BBC began an internal review after a live broadcast of the BAFTAs, Britain’s top film awards, included a racist word spoken by an audience member with Tourette’s syndrome. The man, who was present because a biopic about his life had been nominated, shouted the slur while two Black actors were presenting an award. He had made other offensive comments earlier in the ceremony, and BAFTA had warned viewers that strong language might appear. The incident sparked debate about the broadcaster’s duty to edit out inappropriate content and raised questions about how society treats people with disabilities. Tourette’s can cause involuntary speech, sometimes including offensive remarks, but it does not excuse the impact of those words on viewers.The BBC issued an apology to viewers and its staff, saying the slur was aired by mistake. Its chief content officer confirmed that an earlier racist word had been removed, but the one heard on air was not edited. She also ordered that the episode be taken down from the BBC’s streaming service after realizing the mistake. The removal was completed within a day, and the broadcaster pledged to review its editing procedures. The incident has led to wider discussions about racism, sensitivity in media and the responsibilities of live event coverage.