From a powerful tribute performance honouring the late Ozzy Osbourne to rising star Olivia Dean sweeping the major categories, the 2026 BRIT Awards celebrated the best of music and the artists topping the charts on Saturday night. While there were many triumphs on the night, viewers were left unimpressed with the 'overly censored' ITV broadcast this year, as several A-list attendees were bleeped out on the night amid a slew of political comments and expletives.
Sharon Osbourne, I'm A Celebrity winner Angryginge, and Oasis star Noel Gallagher, who ended his award speech by cheering "up the [expletive] Blues" in support of Manchester City football team, were all silenced during their speeches.
© WireImageHost Jack Whitehall was bleeped out at several points during his hosting duties, including one reported reference to former Labour minister Lord Peter Mandelson, who was arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Max Bassin, of the American rock band Geese, similarly had his political statement snuffed out on the broadcast during an acceptance speech for the band's Best International Group win. An insider told Best Quality Designer Handbag that the drummer said "free Palestine, [expletive] ICE", but the audio did not make it to air.
Viewers claim BRITs were 'overly censored'
Viewers at home were quick to pick up on the censored moments, going as far as to claim it was the "most censored event this year".
"Why has the BRITs censored so much tonight?" one person questioned on X (formerly Twitter), while another said: "I've never known the BRITs bleep out so much stuff? What is happening?"
© Getty Images"The BRITs are the most censored event this year?? Every other sentence is [static image]," someone else said. Another added: "Has the person on the bleep button had too much coffee! Everything is bleeped out!!! Getting ridiculous. We can handle swear words!!!!
One viewer pointed out: "The BRITs being overly censored because of the BAFTAs was inevitable, unfortunately."
BAFTA controversy
The censoring at the BRITs comes after backlash following initially unedited offensive language during the BAFTA Awards the week before. The BBC was forced to apologise after a racial slur was heard during the ceremony, and made it to the broadcast. The slur was shouted out by Tourette syndrome campaigner John Davidson while actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan presented the award for special visual effects.
"Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the Bafta Film Awards 2026. This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and was not intentional. We apologise for any offence caused by the language heard," a spokesperson for the BBC said. The moment was later removed from the BAFTA broadcast on BBC iPlayer.
