Feb 24 • 11:39 UTC 🇬🇧 UK Sky News

'Utterly unforgivable': Filmmaker quits as BAFTA judge over handling of racist slur at awards ceremony

Filmmaker Jonte Richardson resigns from his position as a BAFTA judge due to the organization's mishandling of a racist slur incident during the awards ceremony.

Filmmaker Jonte Richardson announced his resignation from his role as a judge for the BAFTA film awards in response to the organization's inadequate handling of a racist slur that was unintentionally shouted during the ceremony. The incident occurred when John Davidson, a Tourette's campaigner attending the event, inadvertently vocalized a racial slur due to an involuntary tic while two black actors, Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo, were presenting an award. This moment caught considerable media attention, especially given the context of the ongoing discussions about racism and representation in the film industry.

Richardson expressed his disappointment by stating that BAFTA had "repeatedly failed" to protect the black community, suggesting a lack of accountability within the organization when addressing such sensitive issues. The repercussions of this incident are significant, as they highlight the ongoing challenges and responsibilities of organizations in fostering safe and inclusive spaces, particularly within industries plagued by issues of systemic racism. The incident and Richardson's resignation serve as a clarion call for greater awareness and improved responses to inadvertent but harmful expressions of racism in public forums.

Additionally, Davidson's reaction to the incident, where he expressed being "deeply mortified" for the impact of his condition, adds another layer of complexity to the discussion. It draws attention to the intersection of disability and racism, raising questions about how institutions manage similar situations in the future. The fallout from this incident may influence BAFTA's policies, especially regarding how they address issues of inclusivity and support for marginalized communities moving forward.

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