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BBC Cuts 'Free Palestine' from Akinola Davies Jr.’s BAFTA Acceptance Speech
Controversy erupts as BBC edits out pro-Palestinian message while retaining an offensive outburst in its BAFTA Awards coverage.
- Publish date: since 16 hour Reading time: two min read
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has come under intense criticism after omitting a “Free Palestine” message from award-winning filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr.’s acceptance speech in its broadcast of the 2026 British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs).
The decision has reignited debates over censorship, editorial judgment and political sensitivity in major media coverage.
Akinola Davies Jr, who won the award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for his film My Father’s Shadow, concluded his speech on Sunday by expressing solidarity with people facing conflict, persecution and genocide, ending with the words “To those watching at home, archive your loved ones, archive your stories yesterday, today and forever. For Nigeria, for London, Congo, Sudan, Free Palestine.” These remarks were left out of the BBC’s televised coverage, which was aired with a two-hour delay.
The omission drew swift backlash from viewers and human rights advocates, with some describing the move as censorship. Amnesty International UK called the edit “shameful,” praising Davies Jr for using his platform to highlight the rights of migrants and those enduring persecution, including in Palestine.
Adding to the controversy was the fact that, in the same broadcast, a racial slur shouted by an audience member during a separate segment remained unedited when aired.
The offensive language came from someone with Tourette syndrome while actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented an award, a moment that prompted an apology from the BBC, which attributed the outburst to involuntary verbal tics and said it would be removed from its streaming service version.
When approached for comment, the BBC declined to explain the editorial reasoning behind the removal of Davies Jr’s remarks but said viewers may have heard “strong and offensive language” during the BAFTAs and that the version with that language would be taken down on its digital platforms.
The broadcaster’s handling of the BAFTA coverage, especially the decision to exclude a political message while retaining controversial material, has drawn comparisons to past criticism over its approach to reporting on the Israel-Palestine conflict and raised fresh questions about its editorial policies around political speech and impartiality.