Double Bafta winner Robert Aramayo calls for ‘grace’ towards Tourette’s after shouted slur

Robert Aramayo called on society to ‘have grace’ towards the ‘complex’ and ‘really misunderstood’ Tourette syndrome after scooping both the Bafta for best actor and the EE Rising Star Award.

The 33-year-old actor, who played Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson in the biographical film I Swear, made his comments after invited guest Davidson shouted the N-word at Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo while they were presenting a Bafta.

As explained by the NHS, Tourette’s is a condition that causes people to make sudden, repetitive sounds or movements, known as tics, with Davidson’s symptoms involving outbursts including swearing.

Sinners actors Jordan and Lindo, who were presenting the award for special visual effects, paused briefly before continuing with their introduction onstage after the slur was picked up by microphones in the audience.

Host Alan Cumming then thanked the audience for their understanding and help ‘to create a respectful space for everyone’ as he reminded the audience that Davidson had ‘no control’ over them, explaining: ‘You may have noticed some strong language in the background.

‘This can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people, as the film explores that experience.’

Speaking after his shock double win, Aramayo – who had become tearful on stage over winning the best actor gong, his second of the night – told Metro and other outlets in the winners’ press room: ‘I’m just really happy that I Swear has shone a spotlight on something that is really, really misunderstood. 

‘I think that there’s still a lot more education needed around Tourette’s and what it actually is and how we all, as a society, can help.’

He also said that learning more about the syndrome had been the most eye-opening part of working on I Swear, as ‘it’s complicated and complex and it requires us to have grace’. 

Aramayo added: ‘It’s far more than – there’s lots of tics that people don’t see. There’s people who live with Tourette syndrome who you don’t know that they are because you think tics are a certain thing, but they’re not always like that. 

‘I think just for me, personally, what I learned straight away was that’s true and it then made me passionate about wanting to spread that with the work.’

There has much discussion online in reaction to Davidson’s use of the slur, and the BBC’s decision to keep it in the broadcast edit, with some arguing that Tourette’s is a deeply misunderstood condition while others where much less sympathetic to the language used – especially given the grave offence it could cause.

Davidson was also heard shouting ‘shut the f**k up’ during a speech from Bafta chair Sara Putt and yelled ‘f**k you’ when Arco’s directors took to the stage, as well as ‘bulls**t’ during housekeeping instructions at the start, where attendees were asked not to swear.

Campaigner Davidson, who was diagnosed with Tourette’s aged 25 and received an MBE in 2019, reportedly left the show in the second half as no further outbursts were heard.

As per Variety, it’s said that Davidson left of his own accord as Bafta would ‘under no circumstances’ ask an ‘invited guest’ to leave the ceremony.

Cumming also made a further statement in the show, saying: ‘Tourette syndrome is a disability and the tics you’ve heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette syndrome has no control over their language. We apologise if you are offended tonight.’

Meanwhile The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power star Aramayo also confirmed that he’d had the chance to speak with fellow best actor nominee Ethan Hawke (for Blue Moon), after recalling valuable advice he’d shared with Aramayo and his classmates on a visit to Julliard during his best actor acceptance speech.

‘I think he was grateful for me mentioning it but I meant it and it really did have an effect on everyone in that room in my year, when he came in. 

‘I wanted to meet him but I thought that I might not get the chance so I thought, well I’m mentioning it now then!’

He also praised the Hollywood star as ‘amazing’ and said it would be ‘great’ if he had the chance to work with him in the future.

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