EXCLUSIVE: BAFTA’s inclusion committee is set to meet today for the first time since the arts charity was plunged into crisis over the N-word incident at the film awards last month.
The Learning, Inclusion and Talent Committee will assemble on Wednesday, and two sources said that BAFTA’s handling of John Davidson’s involuntary racial slurs was on the agenda for the meeting.
People familiar with the matter said there was some disquiet among committee members about the events of February 22, when tourette’s campaigner Davidson shouted the N-word at Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo. Their Sinners co-star Wunmi Mosaku was also subjected to the racial slur when she collected her Supporting Actress prize.
There is concern that the inclusion committee, and BAFTA’s disability advisory group, were not consulted about best practice for Davidson’s attendance. There is a feeling that the incident has not reflected well on the groups’ influence at BAFTA.
One member described the situation as a “mess,” while another expected feelings to be running high when the inclusion committee gathers.
Chaired by Ade Rawcliffe, ITV’s chief people officer, BAFTA’s inclusion committee is made up of industry representatives. The disability advisory group is a sub-committee of the Learning, Inclusion and Talent Committee. It is chaired by Sam Tatlow, ITV’s head of diversity.
BAFTA has apologized for the events at the film awards and is currently reviewing the incident. There has been some concern that Davidson did not have the support he required on the night, but the charity did engage an access producer, access coordinator, and a wellbeing coordinator. Davidson, who removed himself from the auditorium after his interruptions, also had additional support from StudioCanal.
In its statement last week, BAFTA said: “We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation and we apologise to all. We will learn from this, and keep inclusion at the core of all we do, maintaining our belief in film and storytelling as a critical conduit for compassion and empathy.”
