BAFTAs - discussion for black/brown mumsnetters

[BigOldBlobsy]

This is obviously a very sensitive subject, as it involves the impact of racist language and disability.
So, I’m making this thread for MNers who are black or brown, brown because brown people have been referred to as the N word as well historically and may want to weigh in.

for any who don’t know, the summary is, a well known disability advocate who struggles with Tourette’s, and is part of the film ‘I swear’, was at the BAFTAS, and involuntary ticced the N word at two black male actors.

there is already a nearly full thread, with lots saying that people shouldn’t be offended as this is involuntary.

I completely agree that tics are involuntary and that Tourette’s is such a difficult condition to struggle with. However, I disagree that you can’t be offended and that it can’t be experienced as racist still, even if unintentional!

This is the sad bit. I hope they simply refuse to answer any questions on the topic. And I learned today that “I Swear” has no Oscar nods so luckily JD won’t be in attendance and they can get on with enjoying their night and not being embarrassed.

It’s not weird. The condition makes him say the very most inappropriate thing in the given context.

It’s not rocket science. JD isn’t racist.

'm heartbroken for Delroy Lindo, it was clear from his face how hard he was hit by hearing the word shouted at him. He paused and glanced, clearly expecting someone from BAFTA to say something / step in. But nothing came, so he was left to carry on, as if nothing had happened. He has no.said that no one from BAFTA spoke to him afterwards, which is entirely unforgivable. (I'm assuming they also didn't speak to Michael B Jordan either).

This is truly disgusting.

Yes - his brain makes him reach for the most inappropriate thing.

Hence me asking what other slurs based on ethnicity / sexuality etc. were uttered.

It's a well-documented aspect of tourettes with coprolalia that the intrusive vocalisations tend to cluster around whatever the person finds most distressing or forbidden to say. So people who are deeply anti-racist, who would be mortified to cause racial offence, can find that racial slurs are precisely what their brain produces — because those words carry the greatest weight of transgression for them personally.

Ie, it might be that the one thing he dreads more than anything is upsetting black people, which causes that to be the most likely kind of tic. It's really tragic.

It's similar to the way OCD intrusive thoughts often target whatever the person holds most dear or finds most abhorrent. The cruelty of the condition is that it weaponises your own values against you.

Apparently he also shouted " Fuck off" at the directors of " Boong". who happen to be Indian. They were likely so happy to win they didn't notice. Surely BAFTA needn't have placed a mike near him? or is that erasure?

Shay, a gorgeous Tik Toker @sh4ysgrwm, who is black and also has Tourettes, specifically coprolalia, nails it. Hers should be the final word on the matter.

https://www.tiktok.com/@sh4ysgrwm/video/7609862556240334094?referer_url=www.newsweek.com%2Fentertainment%2Fpeople-tourettes-speak-out-backlash-baftas-racial-slur-mounts-11565396&refer=embed&embed_source=121374463%2C121468991%2C121439635%2C121749182%2C121433650%2C121404358%2C121497414%2C122122240%2C121351166%2C121811500%2C121960941%2C122122244%2C122122243%2C122122242%2C121487028%2C121331973%2C120811592%2C120810756%2C121885509%3Bnull%3Bembed_card_play&referer_video_id=7609862556240334094

What an advocate she is. For both sides.

But no racial slurs aimed at them.

Hence me asking what other slurs based on ethnicity / sexuality he said.

I know a lot of the criticism is being aimed at the BBC (rightly) but we need to hold BAFTA ultimately accountable for the hurt caused.

This is true as well. I cannot believe that no one asked the Men if they were ok, after that happened. That is so bad, and yes, BAFTA should shoulder criticism, for their total lack of care.

Mumsnet has become an accurate reflection of the hostile environment that the UK has become over the last 10 years or so for black people.

No one has the right to tell black people how to feel about being on the receiving end of this word.

There are many disabled black advocates asking where all this support and understanding has been for them. Many who strongly oppose the bbc's decision air the unedited version and believe a sincere apology is needed.

How I feel about seeing Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo lose breath in that moment, how I feel about hearing it, regardless of intent is not up to anyone but me.

I can feel this way and still have understanding of disability, the condition and reasonable adjustments. I don't think JD should have been excluded from the event.

To the black mumsneters on this thread. You have the right to feel however you want to feel about it.

Those calling us thinned skinned are the same people who would fold into the foetal position if called a "Karen" but hey ho! "n*er" is ok with them because it wasn't said intentionally, to hell with impact and harm.

Hey, apologies for intruding (am white) but this thread was in active and appears to be the only one still running on the subject of JD’s BAFTA’s outburst. I can’t start a new thread as it would probably be deleted on the grounds of being a thread about a thread.

But wanted to share that contrary to all of the assertions on other threads that Michael D Jordan and Delroy Lindo would have shrugged off the slur, there’s evidence that it was a deeply upsetting experience for them.

Michael D Jordan’s parents were reduced to tears watching it.

https://metro.co.uk/2026/02/24/michael-b-jordan-repulsed-baftas-racial-slur-parents-left-tears-27081632/

Yes, it was on his mind, hence he blurted it out. I'm not saying Tourettes isn't real but what I am saying is that it was in his head, in the first place, for it to be blurted out.

You can bet MBJ won't say anything because he will be called an ableist/ victim/ user of the word himself.

Exactly, if he had said black fuck or whatever it would be understandable but N, no fucking way.

Yes, I was told by some, um... excrement, that I was playing the 'victim card'. Because I am black and have ancestors that were lynched during the civil rights era of America. Playing the victim card. You have to wonder what sort of people raised them, to even go there. The hateful racism on here is really disheartening.

I agree with you OP.

It's the audacity to dictate how black people should feel or how MBJ or DL should have reacted.

'It's a word. For all we know they use it multiple times a day'

'These are grown men and it actually won't hurt them to hear the n-word. Chances are they have said it themselves a few times'

'If I was...' Well, you're not.

Then when a poster questions why people are acting like it's no biggie, they are gaslighted.

Classic.

Quite interesting to just sit back and observe.

I recall one black poster being called 'angry' and 'aggressive'.

Again, classic.

I was told on one of those thread on this topic that I was 'angry and aggressive'. I said something about me forgetting to put 'angry black woman' on my bingo card.

These racist bigots are nothing if not predictable.

Yes, I saw that.

Accusing other people of racism towards her in one post while accusing you of playing the victim and making other awful comments in others.

Funny that.

That's not how Tourette's works. The vast majority of people are aware that the n word exists. They also know how horribly offensive and upsetting it is. Thus their brain knows the word, even if the person themselves would never dream of using it. Their brain also knows it's a racist slur against black people, and knows how offensive it is.

So the person's copralalia, which makes them involuntarily shout the most inappropriate and offensive word in a particular situation, causes them to shout the n word.

I'm white so apologies for posting here. It is altogether more measured than the other threads about this have been.

There were a few of us on the others saying that DL, MBJ and JD himself were terribly failed by Bafta/the BBC. It was bad enough that the black presenters and audience on the night had to hear it, but there were also people watching at home who would have been affected. There is to my mind no excuse for it to not have been edited out, which wouldn't have been a total solution of course but would have ameliorated some of the effects, such as the vile racist memes DL and MBJ have been subjected to. It would have been something.

I cannot fathom the 'reasoning' that meant other things were removed but this was OK to remain. Nothing was gained and serious hurt caused by allowing that word to be broadcast, regardless of the fact JD does have a disability and that context. There have been pious words about ' showing the reality of Tourettes' but the film did that. There was absolutely no need to allow this to be broadcast.

I would also posit that the agenda of some of those crying 'ableist' while minimising/ negating the effect on black people affected by this is highly questionable and disingenuous.

That said, it doesn't mean that MBJ and DL shouldn't be upset and offended. Of course they will be, it's a horrible slur. The BBC really should have bleeped it out, and are rightfully being crislticised.

That’s awful but I get their response. Your son has achieved so much only to be faced with racial slurs in a full auditorium of people. And just to be told he shouldn’t care because he is rich, and the person saying it did not mean it.

And it’s not like it was somewhere private where you can deal with it privately. It would be immensely embarrassing and that embarrassment compounded by the BBC.

I think BAFTA’s, in it’s desire to be inclusive did not really properly balance everybody’s needs.

I understand guests had some kind of warning but it clearly wasn’t detailed enough or planned enough.

That’s such a lack of basic manners and care on the part of BAFTA.