After winning the BAFTA Film Award for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer, “My Father’s Shadow” helmer Akinola Davies Jr. ended his speech by saying “free Palestine.” However, these words were then cut from his speech when the ceremony aired two hours later on the BBC.
Towards the end of Davies Jr.’s speech during the taping of the awards — and in one of the only politically-charged moments of the show — he said: “To the economic migrant, the conflict migrant, those under occupation, dictatorship, persecution and those experiencing genocide, you matter and your stories matter more than ever. Your dreams are an act of resistance. To those watching at home, archive your loved ones, archive your stories yesterday, today and forever. For Nigeria, for London, Congo, Sudan, free Palestine. Thank you.”
But this part was entirely cut from the show’s broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer, with only the first section of Davies Jr.’s speech — in which he thanks his family and brother and co-screenwriter Wale Davies — making it to air. “My Father’s Shadow,” which was submitted as the U.K.’s official Oscar entry for best international feature, follows two brothers who attend a family reunion in Lagos during the 1993 Nigerian election and witness their father’s daily struggles.
Representatives for the BBC and Davies Jr. did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment.
There are always cuts made to the BBC broadcast of the awards as the ceremony is edited from three hours down to two, but Davies Jr.’s “free Palestine” not airing sparked particular outrage as several outbursts during the taping — including the N-word — did.
Tourette’s advocate John Davidson — who inspired “I Swear,” which won star Robert Aramayo the best actor BAFTA — was in attendance at the ceremony, and the audience was warned of potential outbursts including strong language. However, when Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo took the stage to present the first award for special visual effects, he shouted the N-word, causing controversy.
BAFTAs host Alan Cumming addressed this during the ceremony, saying: “You may have noticed some strong language in the background. This can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people as the film explores that experience. Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone.”
In a second statement later on, Cumming added that “Tourette’s Syndrome is a disability and the tics you’ve heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette’s Syndrome has no control over their language. We apologize if you are offended tonight.”
However, the moment — and the BBC’s decision to keep the N-word in the tape-delayed broadcast — resulted in widespread debate on social media, with disability advocates reminding viewers that Davidson has no control over the remarks, while others still deemed the airing of the racial slur unacceptable.
Credit: Variety
