Celebrity hairdresser apologises for 'N-word' at Baftas

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As the champagne glasses clinked and the cameras flashed, an outburst of racial abuse scythed through the party atmosphere at the Baftas in the most sudden and shocking manner.

Yesterday, celebrity hairdresser James Brown admitted he was the man who used the "N-word" eight times in a few moments during an exchange with Ben Douglas, television presenter and theatre academy founder.

Douglas revealed what had happened at the awards' ceremony on May 22 in a newspaper article, but he decided not to name his abuser because he did not want to "destroy his career", describing him only as "a leading figure from the fashion world who numbers Kate Moss and Lily Allen among his closest friends".

But as speculation mounted about the abuser's identity, Brown decided it was best to declare he was the guilty party through a statement.

"I'd like to make a public apology to Mr Douglas, to his friends and to Bafta for my offensive and stupid comments," said Brown, who is a celebrity in his own right, thanks to a reality TV show.

"The simple truth is that I had drunk far too much on the evening and my behaviour was totally unacceptable."

But while Brown immediately faced the wrath of the public on social networking sites, Douglas received a death threat in an email.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "Police received an allegation of racially motivated malicious communication from a 34-year-old man. Officers from a south London borough spoke to the alleged victim and inquiries continue."

According to Douglas's account in the Mail on Sunday, the exchange began when his female friend was asked by Brown if she was with him. On being told she was, he reportedly said: "You're a nigger's bitch, that's what you are."

Douglas said Brown had then attempted to claim that he was merely using street slang he had picked up in New York, saying: "Nigger's not offensive. Nothing wrong with nigger. I know loads of niggers."

- INDEPENDENT