A BAFTA judge has resigned following the racial slur row that overshadowed the awards ceremony.

Filmmaker Jonte Richardson was a juror on the organisation’s emerging talent judging panel but has now stepped down from the role amid the controversy that has engulfed the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson blurted out a highly offensive word while Sinners co-stars Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan were on stage presenting a prize.

“The organisation’s handling of the unfortunate Tourette’s N-Word incident last night at the awards was utterly unforgivable,” Richardson wrote in a statement posted on LinkedIn.

“I cannot and will not contribute my time energy and expertise to an organisation that has repeatedly failed to safeguard the dignity of its Black guests, members and the Black creative community.

Richardson said the BAFTAs had a “long history of systemic racism” and had refused to acknowledge the harm inflicted or offer an appropriate apology.

He posted his statement before Davidson – whose lifelong struggle with Tourette syndrome inspired BAFTA-winning film I Swear – issued a heartfelt apology over his uncontrollable tics and referenced both the warning and the apology given by host Alan Cumming during the ceremony.

“I appreciated the announcement to the auditorium in advance of the recording, warning everyone that my tics are involuntary and are not a reflection of my personal beliefs,” Davidson said.

“…In addition to the announcement by Alan Cumming, the BBC and Bafta, I can only add that I am, and always have been deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning.”

Davidson said he has spent his life trying to support and empower the Tourette’s community and to teach empathy, kindness and understanding from others.

“I chose to leave the auditorium early into the ceremony as I was aware of the distress my tics were causing.”

BAFTA bosses have since issued a statement apologising for the harm caused to guests from hearing language “that carries incomparable trauma and pain for so many”.

“We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation and we apologise to all,” the statement said.

“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.”