The BAFTA Disaster
While America is still discussing our president sending out a video depicting a former president and first lady as apes, the UK is dealing with its own racist disaster.
Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo, Black actors who appeared in the critically lauded, financially successful film “Sinners” were in London for the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) awards.
As they were presenting an award, a Tourette’s syndrome sufferer named John Davidson shouted out the N-word.
Jordan and Lindo had a visceral reaction but continued with their presentation.
This was an unmitigated and totally avoidable disaster from beginning to end.
Davidson was at the awards because a movie based on his life and Tourette’s advocacy was nominated for awards.
Therefore, it is understandable that Davidson would be invited to the BAFTAs.
However, it is not ableist in the slightest to expect that special accommodations were called for to ensure Davidson’s comfort and the comfort of the other attendees.
It is a known fact that Tourette symptoms are heightened by stress and nervous tension. Davidson would have been understandably nervous being in such a high-profile environment, leading to heightened symptoms.
Whether it was having him and his guests viewing the program from a different room or some other accommodation, something should have been done so that Davidson could be able to view the awards ceremony without causing distress to himself and other attendees.
This isn’t ableism. It’s common sense and proper planning.
Instead, he shouted “F-you” to several on-stage participants, culminating by using the N-word to Jordan and Lindo.
This was but one failure in the whole fiasco.
When the BAFTA telecast was aired, it wasn’t live.
It was a delayed broadcast.
The BBC had enough foresight to edit an award winner ending his speech with “Free Palestine,” but did not care to edit the racial slur out of the delayed broadcast.
Host Alan Cummings offered a feeble explanation about viewers and attendees hearing “strong and offensive language” and asked for “understanding.”
That wasn’t nearly enough, and that’s not Cummings’ fault because he was likely reading something that someone else wrote.
But BAFTA didn’t apologize to Jordan and Lindo after the incident.
The BBC apologized for not editing out the slur during its broadcast, but neither them nor BAFTA have offered a public apology to Jordan, Lindo, and the other attendees who were subject to Davidson’s tics.
John Davidson has not offered an apology for his words, and his silence may be the most deafening.
Two things can be true.
It can be true that John Davidson’s Tourette’s may have caused him to say vile things.
It is also true that no matter the medical reasons why it might have happened, the situation was avoidable and inexcusable.
Black people are beyond tired of hearing excuses for racial behavior.
It is impossible to convince us that Davidson’s actions were merely a symptom of his condition.
Davidson’s actions were racist.
We are always asked to understand and to not take offense at racism.
We are asked to overlook and be tolerant towards intolerance levied against us.
We are given excuses after excuses.
“It was a joke.”
“It was an intern.”
“Don’t be so thin-skinned.”
Forget that.
Black people should be the beneficiaries of the sensitivities that are present for some but not for us.
“Free Palestine” was worthy of editing, but not the N-word.
The BBC was more worried about offending Israel than it was offending Black people.
As a whole, Black people are not medical doctors, psychologists, or psychiatrists.
We are a constantly oppressed people who daily struggle against micro-and macroaggressions, and virulent racial discrimination.
We don’t want excuses.
We don’t want reasons.
We don’t want to hear that Tourette’s syndrome was responsible for someone’s racist actions.
What we do want is to be able to do something, anything without being reminded that the world is a very racist place.
In that regard, this year’s BAFTA Awards will not win any recognition for inclusion or tolerance.