Filmmaker Jonte Richardson resigns as BAFTA judge over racial slur incident handling

In Brief

Jonte Richardson resigns as BAFTA judge citing response to racial slur at awards ceremony.

Key Facts

• Filmmaker Jonte Richardson resigned as a BAFTA emerging talent judge following the organisation's handling of a racial slur incident at the BAFTA awards ceremony, according to Sky News and The Guardian
• The incident involved a campaigner with Tourette syndrome shouting a racial slur during the event, as reported by The Independent
• Richardson stated the incident caused harm to both Black and disabled communities, according to The Guardian
• The New Black Film Collective and MP Dawn Butler criticized the BBC for not editing out the racial slur from the broadcast, according to The Guardian
• The Tourette’s campaigner explained that the racial slur was a result of tics linked to their condition, as reported by The Independent

What Happened

During the BAFTA awards ceremony, a campaigner with Tourette syndrome shouted a racial slur while two Black actors were present. Filmmaker Jonte Richardson resigned from his role as a BAFTA emerging talent judge, citing the organisation's handling of the incident. The BBC was criticized for broadcasting the slur without editing it out, according to reports.

Why It Matters

The incident has prompted discussion about how live events and broadcasters manage offensive language, especially when involving disability and racial issues. It has led to criticism of BAFTA and the BBC's responses and raised concerns from affected communities, according to various sources.