John Davidson and Bafta issue statements following racial slur incident
Following widespread backlash after involuntarily shouting the N-word at the Baftas ceremony as a result of his Tourette syndrome, John Davidson has now released a statement.
The campaigner, who has worked tirelessly to advocate for greater understanding of Tourette syndrome since he was a teenager, was invited to the ceremony following the nomination of the film I Swear in several categories. The movie saw Robert Aramayo play Davidson as he faces the struggles of severe Tourette syndrome, aiming to spread further awareness of an incredibly misunderstood condition.
Davidson previously appeared in the documentary John’s Not Mad when he was a teenager, and he has since continued to educate others about Tourette’s, a condition which can sometimes manifest in him shouting extremely inappropriate words – even slurs.
This was the case last night when Davidson made various unwelcome remarks throughout the ceremony, including the N-word. The incident occurred when Sinners stars Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented an award on stage, although Davidson promptly left the ceremony on his own accord.
In a statement, he explained (via Variety), “I wanted to thank 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. 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 received criticism from many viewers, who heard the slur after the BBC failed to edit it out of the broadcast, despite the fact that it wasn’t broadcast live. The BBC came under fire for this mistake, and they have since removed the ceremony from iPlayer.
Actor Jamie Foxx weighed in on the situation, writing on Instagram, “Nah, he meant that shit. Unacceptable. Out of all the words, you could’ve said Tourette’s makes you say that?”
While I Swear aimed to highlight the ableism Davidson has long faced, the backlash he has received following the incident has only served to reinforce how little most people know about Tourette’s.
“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,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Bafta have just issued a statement about the incident, apologising and acknowledging the “harm this has caused.”
They wrote, “We apologise unreservedly to [Jordan and Lindo], and to all those impacted. We would like to thank Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism.”
The Baftas thanked Davidson for his “dignity and consideration of others, on what should have been a night of celebration for him,” after he chose to leave the ceremony.
They concluded, “We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation and we apologise to all. 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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