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In a heartfelt apology, Tourette’s syndrome advocate John Davidson addressed an unfortunate incident at the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards, where he involuntarily shouted a racial slur during the event. Davidson, whose life story is portrayed in the biopic I Swear—a film that received a nomination that evening—unexpectedly yelled the N-word as actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo from Sinners were on stage to announce the winner for best visual effects.
In a statement shared with Deadline, Davidson expressed gratitude toward BAFTA and all those involved for their understanding and support during the awards ceremony. “I appreciated the announcement made prior to the recording, informing the audience that my tics are involuntary and do not reflect my personal views,” he stated. “The applause that followed made me feel welcomed in a setting that is typically challenging for me.”
Davidson acknowledged the distress his tics caused and explained his decision to leave the auditorium early. “I have dedicated my life to advocating for the Tourette’s community and promoting empathy, kindness, and understanding,” he emphasized, reiterating his commitment to these values.
The controversial moment was captured in the BBC’s pre-recorded broadcast of the ceremony and was initially available on iPlayer. However, following the backlash, the network decided to remove the segment from its streaming platform.
The controversial moment was included in the BBC’s pre-recorded broadcast of the ceremony that later streamed on iPlayer. The network removed it from iPlayer after the controversy.
BAFTA also released an apology, saying it “apologises unreservedly” to Jordan and Lindo. It also confirmed Davidson left the auditorium after the incident.
“We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation, and we apologise to all,” BAFTA said in a statement, per Deadline. “We will learn from this and keep inclusion at the core of all we do, maintaining our belief in film and storytelling as a critical conduit for compassion and empathy. We would like to thank Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism.”
Emma McNally, CEO of Tourettes Action, defended Davidson in a statement explaining the nature of Tourettes syndrome.
“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,” she said. “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.”
I Swear is a biographical comedy based on Davidson’s life, starring Robert Aramayo as him. The film took two BAFTA awards home that evening, including a shocking Best Actor win for Aramayo.