Social Media Users Slam Alan Cumming Over Racial Slur Apology During BAFTA Awards: 'Cannot Be Trusted'

"Traitors" host Alan Cumming is being slammed online after issuing apology for racial slur heard during recent BAFTA Awards.

Social media users are fuming at Alan Cumming after the BAFTA Awards.

The actor and "Traitors" host issued an apology during the recent ceremony after a man in the audience with Tourette's screamed a racial slur at Black actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo.

While his comments were likely shared with good intentions, netizens shared how his remarks seemed to excuse the damage that may have been caused.

Alan Cumming Speaks During BAFTA Awards, Issues An Apology

 

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A stunning moment from last night's BAFTA Awards has captured global attention. According to Variety, Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson made several outbursts during the show, which featured offensive language, including "f-ck" and "shut the f-ck up."

Elsewhere during the ceremony, Davidson—whose life served as the inspiration for the nominated biopic, "I Swear"—shouted the N-word while Jordan and Lindo were on stage, sparking horror as the video captured the audience audibly gasping.

Host Alan Cumming addressed the situation during the broadcast, noting that viewers may have heard "strong language." He later expressed gratitude to the audience for their understanding and "helping create a respectful space for everyone."

Cumming Slammed Online By 'Sinners' Production Designer Hannah Beachler Over Apology

And a third time at a Black woman. I understand and deeply know why this is an impossible situation. I know we must handle this with grace and continue to push through. But what made the situation worse was the throw away apology of "if you were offended"

— HannahBeachler (@HannahEBeachler) February 23, 2026

Cumming also sought to educate viewers who may have been unfamiliar with Tourette’s Syndrome, calling it "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."

"Sinners" production designer Hannah Beachler discussed the moment on her X account, revealing she was struggling with how to address the matter. "The situation is almost impossible, but it happened 3 times that night, and one of the three times was directed at myself on the way to dinner after the show," Beachler wrote.

Beachler explained that they were aware that they needed to handle the situation "with grace." They added: "But what made the situation worse was the throw-away apology of 'if you were offended.'"

"Of course, we were offended...but our frequency, our spiritual vibration is tuned to a higher level than what happened. I am not steal, this did not bounce off of me, but I exist above it. It can't take away from who I am as an artist," Beachler finished.

Social Media Users Rip Into Cumming Over His Handling Of The Awards Scandal

Alan Cumming cannot be trusted either. We don’t need to have understanding when we get called racial slurs. Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were publicly humiliated and dehumanized. You could see it on their faces. They should NOT have had to endure that. Period.

— Becca ✦ R&B Royalty (@MJFINESSELOVER) February 22, 2026

Beachler was far from the only individual to weigh in on Cumming’s stance during the BAFTA Awards. Other social media users similarly voiced their opinions, expressing collective frustration with the "Traitors" star’s handling of the situation.

"No, Alan Cumming, I am NOT going to be understanding when a grown adult (even if they have disabilities) says a racist slur," a user wrote on X.

"Alan Cumming cannot be trusted either," another user shared. "We don’t need to have understanding when we get called racial slurs. Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were publicly humiliated and dehumanized. You could see it on their faces. They should NOT have had to endure that. Period."

Other social media users were incensed when they learned that the BBC had chosen not to scrap the footage from the replays.

Jamie Foxx Expresses Frustration After Seeing Footage Of Jordan And Delroy Being Called A Racial Slur During Awards Show

 

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Actor Jamie Foxx commented on the situation on Instagram, calling out Davidson for hurling a racial slur at Jordan and Delroy while they were presenting the award for Best Special Visual Effects.

"Nah, he meant that sh-t," the "Blame It" singer wrote. "Out of all words you could've said, Tourette's makes you say that?"

He added, "Unacceptable."

BAFTA Releases An Apology After A Moment From Last Night's Award Show Sparks A Heated Response From The Public

According to NPR, BAFTA released an apology after last night's incident, acknowledging the words heard during the show "[carry] incomparable trauma and pain for so many." The statement continued, "We want to acknowledge the harm this has caused, address what happened, and apologize to all."

Like Cumming, BAFTA explained Davidson's condition and added that his verbal tics "are in no way a reflection of an individual's beliefs and are not intentional."

BAFTA issued a formal apology regarding the "profoundly offensive term" directed at Jordan and Delroy Lindo while they were on stage. "We would like to thank Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism," they added.

"During the ceremony, John chose to leave the auditorium and watch the rest of the ceremony from a screen, and we would like to thank him for his dignity and consideration of others, on what should have been a night of celebration for him," they finished.