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BAFTA Judge Quits Over Racial Slur Handling
24 Feb
Summary
- Judge Jonte Richardson resigned from BAFTA's emerging talent panel.
- Richardson cited BAFTA's handling of a racial slur aired during the ceremony.
- He believes BAFTA failed to safeguard Black guests and creatives.
Jonte Richardson has stepped down from his role as a judge for the BAFTA emerging talent category. This decision, announced on February 22, stems from the organization's response to racial slurs aired during the recent awards ceremony. Richardson expressed his inability to continue contributing time and expertise to an organization he feels has repeatedly failed its Black guests and the creative community.
During the broadcast, the N-word was audibly used by John Davidson, whose life inspired the film 'I Swear.' Host Alan Cumming explained the incident, attributing the outburst to Tourette's syndrome and apologizing for any offense. However, Richardson deemed the apology insufficient, particularly in light of other edited segments, and considers BAFTA's lack of acknowledgment of harm to both Black and disabled communities unforgivable.
Richardson further stated that remaining involved would be akin to endorsing BAFTA's actions, referencing the organization's history of systemic racism. He urged BAFTA leadership to recognize the damage caused and to ensure their production teams are inclusive enough to prevent such occurrences in the future.
