Shock at Bafta broadcast
Actress Wunmi Mosaku has blasted the BBC for airing a racial slur shouted involuntarily during last month’s Bafta Awards. The star of The Sinners says the broadcaster’s decision left her sleepless and in tears.
Speaking on the red carpet at the Actor Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, Mosaku made clear she holds no grudge against John Davidson, the Tourette’s campaigner who uttered the offensive word. But she was scathing of the BBC’s handling of the incident.
“Bafta has lessons to learn”
“I have no hard feelings towards John Davidson at all. He has a condition. I feel like Bafta has a lot of lessons to learn,” Mosaku told Entertainment Tonight.
She was present at the London ceremony when Davidson shouted the n-word toward fellow Sinners cast members Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo. Mosaku said the moment “tainted” what should have been a celebration night.
She also slammed the event for being “exploitative and performative,” pointing out the lack of protection for Davidson, the audience, and especially children in attendance.
BBC’s decision to keep slur on air ‘unforgivable’
Mosaku revealed the BBC’s choice to leave the slur in the broadcast was what hit her hardest. “That’s the bit that really kind of kept me awake at night and brought tears to my eyes,” she said. “I was like, you really chose to keep that in? I can’t understand it, and I’m not sure if I can forgive it.”
Aftermath and apologies
Her comments come just days after co-star Delroy Lindo publicly responded to the incident at the NAACP Image Awards. He thanked those who supported the cast in the fallout.
The BBC has since apologised and confirmed its Executive Complaints Unit is fast-tracking an investigation. No further updates or responses to Mosaku’s latest remarks have been made public.
