Wunmi Mosaku reflects on the anguish she felt after a controversial moment at last month’s Bafta Film Awards, when a racist slur from a Tourette’s lawyer was broadcast by the BBC.
The 39-year-old British-Nigerian actress, who stars as Annie, the soulful and resilient Hoodoo healer and herbalist in Ryan Coogler’s 2025 film Sinnersnow believes the incident cast a ‘shadow’ over her win for Best Supporting Actress.
“Obviously there has been a shadow after the Bafta win. It has been very difficult since the BBC decided to broadcast what it broadcast,” Mosaku said. Glamour magazine.
Mosaku talked about the immediate aftermath, noting how the cast supported each other. “I was (up for) the next award, so I came off the stage, I saw them and I hugged them.”
She criticized the broadcaster’s inability to censor the comment, insisting that “anyone affected deserved the mercy of having it removed.”
“We were told it was a family-friendly show at 7pm and there was a two-hour delay. How could it have stayed that way?” the actress called out.
The slur was reportedly dubbed as hair by Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson Sinners co-stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented an award at the London event.
Following the incident, the BBC’s outgoing director general Tim Davie said the corporation “deeply regrets” the events, while a swift investigation by the Executive Complaints Unit recognized the broadcast as a “serious error”.
Mosaku added that attending the NAACP Image Awards in California with Jordan and Lindo a week later provided a “healing” experience.
She also reflected on her personal life, including impending motherhood and her ADHD diagnosis.
“I take my ADHD into account in everything now, so family life takes priority over socializing or texting in a group conversation. I try not to read all these messages,” she said of her recent priorities, especially around family life and time management.
