Actress Wunmi Mosaku ‘awake at night’ over Baftas incident
By Jenny Garnsworthy, Press Association
Sinners star Wunmi Mosaku has said she was kept “awake at night” after the BBC failed to censor a racial slur at the Bafta film awards.
Mosaku, who was named best supporting actress for her role in the film at the ceremony last month, said the incident “really tainted it for me”.
Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson could be heard shouting as her fellow Sinners stars Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the award for special visual effects at the event at London’s Royal Festival Hall.
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
Speaking on the red carpet of the Actor Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, Mosaku told US TV show Entertainment Tonight: “I was there and it was painful to have that celebration kind of really tainted for me.
“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.”
She said she found it “exploitative and performative to have someone there without the full protection of everyone, including him and anyone in that audience”, and added that there would have been children present.
Mosaku contiued: “That’s one thing, and then the BBC is a whole other thing.
“That’s the bit that really kind of kept me awake at night and brought tears to my eyes.
“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.”
The BBC has apologised and its Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) has said it will complete a “fast-tracked investigation” into the incident.
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee (CMS) has also written to outgoing BBC director-general Tim Davie “seeking an explanation” for how a racial slur ended up in the broadcast despite a two-hour time delay.
Referencing Glastonbury Festival coverage, chairwoman of the CMS Committee Dame Caroline Dinenage said the “latest incident raises questions about the extent to which lessons have been learned and about the controls and systems you have in place to prevent such incidents”.
Scottish campaigner Davidson was at the Baftas representing the film I Swear, which tells the story of his life with the condition, which he developed when he was 12.
He has described feeling “mortified” by what happened and in an interview with Variety, and said the BBC should have “worked harder” to ensure his racial slur was not broadcast.
We appreciate – I appreciate – all of the support and love we have been shown in the aftermath of what happened last weekend, it means a lot to us
Lindo said he appreciates “all of the support and love” he has received while on stage at the NAACP Image Awards in California on Saturday, which celebrates outstanding achievements and performances of black and minority ethnic people in the arts.
He told the audience: “We appreciate – I appreciate – all of the support and love we have been shown in the aftermath of what happened last weekend, it means a lot to us.
“It is an honour to be here amongst our people this evening, amongst so many people who have shown us such incredible support.
“And it’s a classic case of something that could’ve been very negative becoming very positive. Thank you so much for the support.”
