Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson was heard shouting a racial slur while Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award at the Baftas
Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson has issued a statement after a tic in which he shouted a racial slur at the Bafta awards ceremony on Sunday evening led to widespread backlash.
Mr Davidson, who is the subject of the movie I Swear which was nominated for a number of Baftas, could be heard shouting various expletives throughout the ceremony due to his Tourette’s. He shouted the N-word when Sinners stars Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award at the start of the night.
He has since said he is “deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning.” Mr Davidson also confirmed he left the auditorium early as he was aware of the “distress” his tics were causing.
It comes after the BBC apologised for not editing a racial slur out of its coverage of the Baftas. Ensure our latest news and sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings.
In a statement on Monday Mr Davidson said: “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. 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.”
Mr Davidson added: “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.”
He concluded the statement by saying that I Swear, “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.” For the latest TV and showbiz news sign up to our newsletter
After widespread criticism that the racial slur was broadcast a BBC spokesman said: “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 apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer.”
Charity Tourettes Action said it “deeply understands” the harm of the racial slur but called for understanding of the condition. The charity said it was “incredibly proud” of Mr Davidson and those involved in the film I Swear, which tells the story of his life having developed the condition when he was 12.
A spokesman for the charity said: “We also want to address the negative comments that have surfaced following John’s involuntary vocal tics during the ceremony.
“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.
“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.”
It went on to say that it had found the “backlash” to the incident “deeply saddening”.
During the broadcast the awards ceremony’s presenter Alan Cumming issued an apology for the language viewers may have heard.
He said: “You may have heard some strong and offensive language tonight. If you have seen the film I Swear you will know that film is about the experience of a person with Tourette syndrome.
“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.”
Mr Davidson was made an MBE in 2019 for his efforts to increase understanding of Tourette syndrome and help families deal with the condition.
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