Tourette’s campaigner ‘deeply mortified’ over racial slur shouted during Bafta Film Awards

LAST UPDATE | 12 hrs ago

TOURETTE’S CAMPAIGNER JOHN Davidson has said he is “deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning” after he shouted a racial slur at the Bafta Film Awards on Sunday night.

Davidson could be heard shouting a racial slur as Sinners actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan presented the award for special visual effects during the awards ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall.

Jordan and Lindo were mid-speech presenting the award to Avatar: Fire and Ash when Davidson shouted the slur. The actors paused for a moment then continued their speech.

Davidson lives with Tourette’s syndrome - a motor disorder that can involve involuntary tics and outbursts.

He is the inspiration behind the Bafta-winning movie I Swear, which tells the story of his life, having developed Tourette’s syndrome when he was 12.

In a statement to the Press Association, Davidson said he chose to leave the auditorium early as he was “aware of the distress my tics were causing”.

Davidson thanked Bafta and “everyone involved in the awards last night for their support and understanding and inviting me to attend the broadcast”.

“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,” he added.

“I was heartened by the round of applause that followed this announcement and felt welcomed and understood in an environment that would normally be impossible for me.”

During the broadcast, the awards ceremony’s presenter Alan Cumming apologised for the language viewers may have heard.

Referencing this, 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.

“I was in attendance to celebrate the film of my life, I Swear, which more than any film or TV documentary, explains the origins, condition, traits and manifestations of Tourette syndrome.”

“I have spent my life trying to support and empower the Tourette’s community and to teach empathy, kindness and understanding from others and I will continue to do so.

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

Meanwhile, the BBC has removed the Baftas from its iPlayer after it failed to edit out the incident.

The interruption was broadcast as part of the BBC’s delayed broadcast of the Baftas, with the slur audibly shouted from the audience. The BBC has been criticised by some for this not being edited out of the broadcast.

In a statement today, the BBC apologised that the language was not edited out prior to broadcast and said it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer.

“Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards. This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional.”

‘Throwaway apology’

During the show, Cumming said: “Tourette syndrome is a disability and the tics you have heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette syndrome has no control over their language. We apologise if you were offended.”

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However, the production designer for Sinners set, Hannah Bleachers, criticised the “throwaway apology”.

“I understand and deeply know why this is an impossible situation. I know we must handle this with grace and continue to push through. But what made the situation worse was the throw away apology of ‘if you were offended’,” she said in a post on X.

“The situation is almost impossible, but it happened 3 times that night, and one of the three times was directed at myself on the way to dinner after the show.”

A floor manager told the audience before the show about the potential for Davidson to carry out “involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony”.

According to Variety, Davidson’s tics interrupted several speeches at the awards show. 

Jordan and Lindo starred in Ryan Coogler’s movie Sinners, which took home the Bafta last for original screenplay. Coogler made history by becoming the first Black winner in the category’s history.

Sinners had 13 Bafta nominations in total, including Best Film, while Jordan was also up for Best Actor for his dual role as twin brothers Elijah “Smoke” and Elias “Stack” Moore.

‘We have to understand’

The award for Best Actor went to Robert Aramayo, who played Davidson in I Swear, a movie about growing up with Tourettes in Scotland.

After the ceremony, Aramayo was asked by the BBC about the interruptions made by Davidson during the show.

“First of all they are tics. He is ticking. We have to understand. The way we perceive Tourette’s is a joint responsibility. It’s not shouting obscenities. It’s not being abusive. It’s Tourettes,” Aramayo said.

“They are tics. If it can lead to a deeper understanding of Tourettes, and movies are part of that conversation, then it’s an incredible thing.”

In a statement this evening, Bafta apologised for the “harm caused” and stated that the “very offensive language carries incomparable trauma and pain for so many”.

The statement added that Tourette’s Syndrome “causes involuntary verbal tics, that the individual has no control over”.  

“Such tics are in no way a reflection of an individual’s beliefs and are not intentional.”

Bafta said it takes the “duty of care to all our guests very seriously and start from a position of inclusion”. 

“We took measures to make those in attendance aware of the tics, announcing to the audience before the ceremony began, and throughout, that John was in the room and that they may hear strong language, involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony.”

Bafta said it “apologises unreservedly” to Jordan and Lindo and to all those impacted. 

It also thanked Jordan and Lindo “for their incredible dignity and professionalism”.  

Bafta also thanked Davidson for his “dignity and consideration of others” after he chose to leave the auditorium and watch the rest of the ceremony from a screen.

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

“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.”

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