Alan Cumming Brands Baftas Ceremony A ‘Triggering S**tshow’

This year’s Baftas host Alan Cumming has issued a statement reflecting on the “shitshow” that arose during the ceremony last month.

For the past week, Bafta has been facing a wave of scrutiny over an event which transpired during the recent film awards, in which Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson experienced a series of involuntary tics, resulting in him shouting a variety of slurs from the audience.

Early on in the ceremony, Alan told the audience: “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.

“Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone.”

Near the end of the ceremony, the Traitors US presenter added an apology on behalf of Bafta, stating: “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.”

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, Alan posted a statement about the Baftas on Instagram, telling his followers: “It’s now a week since I hosted the Baftas. What should have been an evening celebrating creativity as well as diversity and inclusion turned into a trauma-triggering shitshow.

“I’m so sorry for all the pain Black people have felt at hearing that word echoed round the world. I’m so sorry the Tourette’s community has been reminded of the lack of understanding and tolerance that abounds regarding their condition.

“The only possible good that could come of this is a reminder that words matter, that rushing to judgement about things of which we are not fully cognisant is folly, that all trauma must be recognised and honoured.”

He continued: “We were all let down by decisions made to both broadcast slurs and censor free speech. Congratulations to all the artists whose work was overshadowed by the night’s events.”

After Delroy Lindo voiced his disappointment at how Bafta handled the incident during this year’s ceremony, the awards body issued a statement apologising to both actors, and accepting “full responsibility” for what transpired.

Meanwhile, the BBC has said its director-general has “fast-tracked” an investigation into how the slur came to be included in its coverage of the Baftas, which a spokesperson has described as a “serious mistake”.

John Davidson also shared his own feelings a week after the ceremony, writing on social media: “Whilst I will never [apologise] for having Tourette syndrome, I will apologise for any pain, upset and misunderstanding that it may create.

“This past week has been tough, and has reminded me that what I do, raising awareness for such a misunderstood condition, there is still a long way to go and I will keep on keeping on until this is achieved.”