Kate Phillips, the BBC's chief content officer, has apologised to staff following the broadcast of a racial slur during Sunday's Bafta Film Awards ceremony.
In an internal memo circulated on Tuesday, Ms Phillips acknowledged the incident was "aired in error" and stated the corporation "would never have knowingly allowed this to be broadcast."
The offensive language was shouted while Hollywood actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting the special visual effects award at London's Royal Festival Hall.
"I'm so sorry that a racial slur was not edited out of our broadcast. We understand how distressing this was," Phillips wrote to colleagues.
John Davidson experiences involuntary vocal tics as a result of his condition | GETTYThe full message read: "I wanted to write to you following Sunday’s Bafta Film Awards.
“I’m so sorry that a racial slur was not edited out of our broadcast. We understand how distressing this was.
“Award attendees were pre-warned about the possibility of involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette Syndrome at the start of the show, and Alan Cumming addressed it during the broadcast.
"Of course, this doesn’t lessen the impact and upset.
"The edit team removed another racial slur from the broadcast. This one was aired in error and we would never have knowingly allowed this to be broadcast.
Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting a Bafta at the time of one of the outbursts | GETTY"We take full responsibility for what happened. When I was made aware it was audible on iPlayer, I asked for it to be taken down.
"As I'm sure you're aware we put out a statement yesterday morning apologising that the remark was not edited out prior to broadcast."
The incident occurred during the ceremony on Sunday when John Davidson, a Tourette's syndrome campaigner, was heard shouting from the audience as the two actors took to the stage.
Mr Davidson was attending the awards to represent the film I Swear, which tells the story of his life with the condition he developed at age 12.
Warner Bros, the studio behind Jordan and Lindo's upcoming film Sinners, is understood to have raised immediate concerns with Bafta staff following the incident.
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BBC staff received an apology
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Representatives from the studio reportedly spoke directly with academy personnel and requested the slur be removed from the broadcast, which aired two hours after the live ceremony concluded.
Bafta is understood to have reassured Warner Bros that their concerns would be passed on to the BBC.
The BBC's handling of the incident has drawn fierce criticism from Labour MP Dawn Butler, who accused the broadcaster of "an obvious bias" and a "failure of duty of care."
The MP for Brent Central described the broadcast as "painful and unforgivable" and has written to outgoing director-general Tim Davie demanding an explanation for why the slur was not removed.
The fallout has also extended to Bafta itself, with filmmaker Jonte Richardson announcing he is stepping down from the academy's emerging talent judging panel.
"The organisation's handling of the unfortunate Tourette's N-word incident last night at the awards was utterly unforgivable," Richardson wrote on LinkedIn.
John Davidson, a prominent Tourette syndrome campaigner, shouted the N-word involuntarily from the audience during Sunday evening's ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall | GETTYHe urged Bafta leadership to "comprehend the damage they and the BBC have caused" and called for more inclusive production staff.
Bafta issued an apology on Monday evening, accepting "full responsibility" for placing its guests in a "very difficult situation."
The academy apologised "unreservedly" to Mr Jordan and Mr Lindo, thanking the actors for their "incredible dignity and professionalism."
"We will learn from this and keep inclusion at the core of all we do," Bafta stated.
Mr Davidson expressed deep regret over the incident, saying he was "deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning."
The campaigner explained he had chosen to leave the auditorium early during the ceremony as he was "aware of the distress my tics were causing."
Speaking to Vanity Fair after the event, Mr Lindo said he and Mr Jordan "did what we had to do" but wished "someone from Bafta spoke to us afterward."