Tourette activist John Davidson, who accidentally shouted the N-word during the BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday night, has issued a statement following widespread backlash.
Ms Davidson, who first started experiencing tics at the age of 12, was verbally abusive during the first half of the ceremony, including yelling “Shut up!” during BAFTA chair Sarah Putt’s opening address. He could also be heard yelling the N-word as Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo took the stage to present the award for Best Visual Effects for Avatar: Fire and Ash.
“I would like to thank everyone at BAFTA and the awards community for their support, understanding and inviting me to broadcast last night,” Davidson said in a statement. “Prior to the recording, I thanked everyone in the auditorium for warning me that my tics were involuntary and did not reflect my personal beliefs. The applause that followed this announcement was heartening and made me feel welcomed and understood in an unusual setting.”
Host Alan Cumming interrupted the BAFTA Film Awards twice to address Davidson’s abuse, once thanking the audience, including Prince William and Kate of Wales, for their understanding, and a second time apologizing: “If I’ve been offended, I’m sorry tonight.”
Mr Davidson added: “In addition to Alan Cumming, the BBC and BAFTA’s announcement, I would like to add that if anyone thinks my involuntary tics are intentional or mean anything, I do and always deeply regret it.”
He concluded his statement by saying that “I Swear” “explains the origins, condition, characteristics, and symptoms of Tourette syndrome better than any film or television documentary.”
“I have and will continue to spend my life supporting and empowering the Tourette’s community and teaching empathy, kindness and understanding from others,” Davidson said. “I decided to leave the auditorium early in the ceremony because I was aware of the distress my tics were causing.”
In I Swear, The Lord of the Rings star Robert Aramayo plays Davidson, a man diagnosed with the syndrome. Aramayo beat out Hollywood stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Ethan Hawke to take home the leading man statue for his performance. The film, which received five nominations, also won a casting award.
Hannah Beachler, the BAFTA-nominated production designer for Sinners, later wrote in a post to X: “It happened three times that night, one of which was directed at me on my way to dinner after the show.”
She added: “We know we have to deal with this gracefully and move on. But what made it even worse was his desperate apology at the end of the show, saying, ‘If I offended you.'”
Before the ceremony began, a floor manager introduced Mr. Davidson to the audience and warned him that “involuntary noises and movements” might be heard.
Despite the show being broadcast on BBC One in the UK with a two-hour delay, the N-word was not censored or edited from the broadcast. The uncensored broadcast was also available on the BBC’s streaming platform iPlayer until midday on Monday, when the broadcaster stopped broadcasting it. It could also be heard in the US broadcast on E!
In a statement, the BBC said: “During the BAFTA Film Awards ceremony, some viewers may have heard strongly offensive language. This resulted from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome and was unintentional, as explained during the ceremony. We apologize that this was not edited before broadcast and will be removed from the BBC iPlayer version.”
Tourettes Action, the charity Davidson works with, also released a statement on Monday. CEO Emma McNally said: “Following last night’s BAFTA Awards, we are proud to announce that John and I “We are extremely proud of everyone involved in ‘Swear’. This film has already raised a lot of awareness about Tourette syndrome and the everyday realities faced by people living with the condition. The impact it has had on audiences, families and the people of the Tourette community has been huge, and we could not be more grateful for the support this film continues to receive. However, we also want to address the negative comments that have surfaced since the film.” John’s involuntary vocal tics during the ceremony demonstrate a deep understanding that these words can cause hurt, but at the same time, it is important that the public understand a fundamental truth about Tourette syndrome: tics are not involuntary and do not reflect a person’s beliefs, intentions, or personality. ”
“The backlash from some in the media is extremely sad, especially considering how hard John works to raise awareness and understanding. What was supposed to be a night of celebration for him became overwhelming, and he made the difficult decision to leave the ceremony. This moment is a perfect example of what ‘I Vow’ so bluntly demonstrates: the isolation, misdirection that often accompanies this condition. “People with Tourette’s regularly manage their physical and social environments and symptoms. The cost of being misunderstood is a sense of isolation and increased risk.” Education is key and compassion changes the world. ”
