Tourettes Action deem backlash to John Davidson following Baftas racial slur incident “extremely saddening”
UK charity Tourettes Action has spoken out in support of Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson in a statement shared with Far Out, after he involuntarily shouted a racial slur at Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan at the Baftas ceremony.
The incident took place on February 22nd, when Davidson, who suffers from Tourette’s syndrome, shouted the N-word towards the stage at Lindo and Jordan, who were presenting the first award of the night for ‘Best Visual Effects’.
In light of this, Davidson then removed himself from the ceremony, while host Alan Cumming twice acknowledged the remarks, telling those in attendance, “Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone.”
Cumming later explained, “Tourette’s Syndrome is a disability and the tics you’ve heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette’s Syndrome has no control over their language. We apologise if you are offended tonight
Davidson was in attendance at the ceremony as his life inspired the critically-acclaimed film I Swear, which saw British actor Robert Aramayo take home the prestigious ‘Best Actor’ prize, beating the likes of Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio.
In light of the incident, Davidson has been condemned by many on social media, including Jamie Foxx, who described his comments as “unacceptable”.
In light of this, Tourettes Action shared a statement with Far Out, which began: ” We are incredibly proud of John and everyone involved in I Swear following last night’s BAFTA Awards.”
Going on to reference the critically acclaimed I Swear, they added: “The film has already raised so much awareness about Tourette syndrome and the daily reality faced by those living with the condition.”
The statement then addressed “the negative comments that have surfaced following John’s involuntary vocal tics during the ceremony,” sharing, “We deeply understand that these words can cause hurt but at the same time, it is vital that the public understands a fundamental truth about Tourette syndrome: tics are involuntary. They are not a reflection of a person’s beliefs, intentions, or character.”
Echoing comments made by Cumming on the night, the statement clarified: “People with Tourette’s can say words or phrases they do not mean, do not endorse, and feel great distress about afterwards. These symptoms are neurological, not intentional, and they are something John – like many others with Tourette’s – lives with every single day.”
As such, they wrote, “the backlash from certain parts of the media has been extremely saddening, particularly given how hard John works to raise awareness and understanding.”
Davidson suffers from Tourette’s with Coprolalia, which only affects a small percentage of people with Tourette’s. According to Tourette’s Action, this is “the clinical term for tics that produce socially unacceptable words”.
The statement added, “What should have been a night of celebration for him became overwhelming, and he made the difficult decision to leave the ceremony halfway through. This moment reflects exactly what I Swear shows so openly: the isolation, misunderstanding, and emotional weight that so often accompany this condition.”
They outlined the serious impact the backlash might have, sharing solemnly that “the price of being misunderstood is increased isolation, risk of anxiety and depression, and death by suicide.”
The statement finished with one last call for kindness, concluding: “We hope that those commenting will take the time to watch the film, learn about Tourette’s, and understand the experiences behind moments like these. Education is key, and compassion makes a world of difference.”
Similarly, Aramayo called for “education” in light of the unfortunate incident, adding that Tourette’s is “complicated and complex, and it requires us to have grace”.
A BBC spokesperson has also apologised for the incident, sharing in an official statement: “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.”
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