Tourette’s activist John Davidson found himself at the center of a significant controversy during the BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday night, following a series of involuntary vocal tics, including the use of a racial slur, which garnered widespread backlash and prompted apologies from broadcasters and organizers.

Davidson, who began experiencing tics at the age of 12 and is the subject of the BAFTA-nominated biopic “I Swear,” attended the ceremony. Throughout the first half of the event, he made several outbursts. These included shouting “shut the fuck up” during BAFTA chair Sara Putt’s opening remarks and “fuck you” when the directors of “Boong” accepted their award. The most significant incident occurred when actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo took the stage to present the best visual effects award to “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” at which point Davidson was heard shouting the N-word. Before the ceremony, a floor manager had introduced Davidson to the audience, warning them of potential involuntary noises or movements due to his Tourette’s syndrome, without specifying the nature of the outbursts. Host Alan Cumming twice addressed the situation during the proceedings, first thanking the audience, which included Prince William and Princess Kate, for their understanding, and later apologizing “if you are offended tonight,” a remark that drew criticism.

In response to the backlash, Davidson released a statement, thanking BAFTA for their support and understanding. He expressed appreciation for the pre-announcement to the auditorium regarding his involuntary tics, noting it was not a reflection of his personal beliefs, and found heart in the subsequent applause, which made him feel welcomed. Davidson stated, “I am, and always have been deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning.” He clarified that he chose to leave the auditorium early into the ceremony due to his awareness of the distress his tics were causing. Davidson emphasized his life’s work supporting the Tourette’s community and promoting empathy, kindness, and understanding. He also highlighted his film, “I Swear,” as a crucial resource for explaining the origins, condition, traits, and manifestations of Tourette Syndrome.

The controversy escalated further when the BBC’s tape-delayed broadcast, aired two hours after the live event, included the uncensored racial slur. The remark, though barely audible amid the ceremony’s noise, was picked up in the BBC’s coverage and remained available on BBC One and the iPlayer streaming platform until Monday midday, when the broadcaster pulled it. This drew particular scrutiny given the two-hour delay typically used for editing out such material. The BBC subsequently issued an apology, stating: “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. We apologize that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer.” This incident echoed a previous controversy where the BBC aired a “Death to the IDF” chant during a Glastonbury Festival performance, leading to revised livestreaming protocols.

BAFTA also released a statement, taking “full responsibility” for putting its guests “in a very difficult situation” and apologizing to all, specifically to Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo, thanking them for their “incredible dignity and professionalism.” BAFTA acknowledged the harm caused by the offensive language, explaining that Davidson MBE has Tourette Syndrome, which causes involuntary verbal tics not reflective of personal beliefs. They reiterated the measures taken to make attendees aware of his condition, including pre-ceremony and throughout-ceremony announcements. BAFTA praised Davidson for his "dignity and consideration of others" for choosing to leave the auditorium and watch the remainder of the ceremony from a screen, transforming what should have been a night of celebration for him into a difficult experience. The Academy affirmed its commitment to learning from the incident and maintaining inclusion at the core of its work.

Tourettes Action, a charity Davidson works with, also defended him, with CEO Emma McNally stating pride in John and “I Swear” for raising awareness about Tourette syndrome. McNally addressed the negative comments, underscoring the vital truth that tics are involuntary and do not reflect a person’s beliefs or character. She lamented the media backlash, which turned a night of celebration for Davidson into an overwhelming experience, forcing him to leave. McNally emphasized that this situation perfectly illustrates the isolation, misunderstanding, and emotional weight often accompanying the condition, urging that increased isolation, anxiety, depression, and risk of suicide are the prices of being misunderstood. The charity called for viewers to watch “I Swear” to learn about Tourette’s, stressing that education is key and compassion makes a world of difference. The film “I Swear,” where Robert Aramayo portrays Davidson and won the leading man statue, also secured an award for casting and was nominated in five categories.

However, the responses were not universally accepted. Production designer Hannah Beachler, nominated for a BAFTA for “Sinners,” posted on X that the N-word incident “happened 3 times that night and one of the three times was directed at myself on the way to dinner after the show,” further criticizing Alan Cumming’s apology as a “throw away apology of ‘if you were offended.’” Delroy Lindo, speaking to Vanity Fair, expressed that he and Michael B. Jordan “did what we had to do” but wished “someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterwards.” Multiple sources indicated that nominees or attendees were not contacted by BAFTA or BBC ahead of the show with specific warnings about the kinds of outbursts they might hear.