LONDON: Britain’s film academy and the BBC apologized to viewers after an audience member with Tourette syndrome shouted a racial slur during the British Academy Film Awards.
The highly offensive word could be heard as “Sinners” stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting the award for best visual effects during Sunday’s ceremony.
Host Alan Cumming had earlier told the audience that a guest at the ceremony was John Davidson, a Scottish campaigner for people with Tourette’s who inspired the BAFTA-nominated film “I Swear.”
Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements and vocalizations, including the uttering of inappropriate words.
After the outburst, Cumming apologized to the audience at London’s Royal Festival Hall for the “strong and offensive language.”
“Tourette syndrome is a disability and the tics you have heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette syndrome has no control over their language,” Cumming said. “We apologize if you were offended.”
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts referred to Cumming’s statement when asked for comment on Monday.
The epithet could be heard when the BBC broadcast the ceremony about two hours after the live event. The broadcaster apologized Monday, though the offensive word could still be heard on the broadcaster’s streaming site.
“This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and was not intentional,” it said in a statement. “We apologize for any offense caused by the language heard.”
“I Swear” won two BAFTAs, including best actor for Robert Aramayo, who plays Davidson.
Ed Palmer, vice chairman of the charity Tourettes Action, said the BBC should have considered bleeping out the slur.
“This is really one of the most acute examples of where something that is a disability can cause quite understandably huge amounts of offense to someone,” he told Times Radio. “So, if it’s being prerecorded now, then bleeping it out, for example, might be a reasonable compromise.”
BBC and host apologize after racial slur shouted during BAFTA awards by guest with Tourette’s
https://arab.news/c3seb
BBC and host apologize after racial slur shouted during BAFTA awards by guest with Tourette’s
- BAFTA and the BBC have apologized after a person with Tourette syndrome shouted a racial slur during the British Academy Film Awards
- The BBC also apologized for the “strong and offensive language,” saying it was not intentional
Snap launches AR Souq in Saudi, expands regional AR Ramadan Mall
- Snap Souq features Najdi-inspired design and interactive brand activations
- The mall returns for fifth year with new ‘districts’
DUBAI: Snap has launched the Snap Souq, an augmented reality experience designed to resemble a traditional Saudi souq, for the Ramadan season.
Snapchat users can access the virtual souq, which features Najdi architectural design, through a selfie lens that provides a digital key.
“For many of us, our strongest Ramadan memories are tied to evenings spent together, gathering, exploring, and discovering something new. Those moments shape how we connect, and that sense of discovery is deeply cultural,” said Abdulla Al-Hammadi, managing director for Saudi Arabia at Snap Inc.
He told Arab News the Snap Souq used “technology to scale that feeling without losing its essence, bringing discovery into a digital space that feels natural to today’s audiences.”
Each brand kiosk has a different design and features interactive gaming elements aimed at increasing user interaction beyond product browsing.
Although users cannot shop directly within the AR experience, Snap said the launch highlights the “importance of culturally aligned digital experiences” during Ramadan, as spending in the Kingdom typically increases by 35 percent during this period. Some 84 percent of users in the Kingdom have expressed interest in using AR to engage with products before purchasing, according to the company.
Brands taking part include NiceOne, Abdul Latif Jameel, Rama Clinics and Stars Smile.
“By reimagining the traditional Saudi souq through the Snapchat camera, we created a space where heritage, community, and modern discovery come together naturally,” said Al-Hammadi.
Snapchat has also brought back its AR Ramadan Mall for the fifth year. In 2025, the experience reached 16.8 million shoppers, driving a 30 percent increase in engagement time year-on-year.
This year, the mall includes five “districts,” each dedicated to a specific sector.
The new format is based on data obtained over several years and allows each category to have its own AR environment, creating a more focused and contextual approach to brand engagement.
“This approach moves away from a one-size-fits-all structure and instead supports deeper engagement by giving people the freedom to spend time in spaces that align more closely with what they are looking for,” explained Mohammed Bouarib, regional creative strategy and innovation lead at Snap Inc.
The mall features 11 brands across five categories — luxury, automotive, food and beverage, self-care and retail. They include YSL Beauty, Dolce & Gabbana, Roberto Cavalli, Nespresso, Puck, Neutrogena, Sensodyne, Centrum, Al‑Futtaim BYD & Denza, and MAX.
Snap Souq is only available in Saudi Arabia, while the AR Ramadan Mall is available across the Middle East. Both can be accessed through the Lens Explorer and the carousel feature on Snapchat until the first week of Eid.
