Tourette's activist shouts N-word during BAFTAs

[sarahb 17,053]

2 hours ago, The Breast said:

https://variety.com/2026/film/awards/john-davidson-tourettes-tics-bafta-n-word-interview-1236671850/

"StudioCanal were working closely with BAFTA, and BAFTA had made us all aware that any swearing would be edited out of the broadcast. I have made four documentaries with the BBC in the past, and feel that they should have been aware of what to expect from Tourette’s and worked harder to prevent anything that I said — which, after all, was some 40 rows back from the stage — from being included in the broadcast.

As I reflect on the auditorium, I remember there was a microphone just in front of me, and with hindsight I have to question whether this was wise, so close to where I was seated, knowing I would tic."

They promised to edited out his swearing AND they put a mic near him? Poor guy was completely screwed over by BBC. 

[gagzus 20,060]

On 2/25/2026 at 1:45 AM, Morphine Prince said:

BAFTAs could edit out “Free Palestine” but not this? 

They humiliated those actors by airing this. 

They knew exactly what they were doing. 

This would’ve caused backlash anyway because if they removed it, it would’ve gotten out anyway. People are looking for reasons to be angry nowadays and they’d just say the BBC was protecting a racist. 
 

Both ableism and racism aren’t to be taken lightly, but out of this situation on a large scale there’s 100% more ableism than racism online I’m sorry.

[Gorehound 5,426]

On 2/23/2026 at 9:49 AM, littlepotter said:

I don't know about yall but if I was on that stage and someone shouted f@gg0t i would quite simply not be graceful about it. Of the hundreds of thousands of words in your lexicon your brain chose that one when you saw me? Why didn't he shout the N word at any other point in the ceremony? I understand that he can't control it but I don't see how you can argue that there's no racism behind it when it only happened when he saw people the slur discriminates against lmao. Unfortunate situation for all involced but I don't think his condition absolves him from issuing an immediate apology.

The guy has Tourette's syndrome! A horrible neurological condition that can force you to shout out things you know are bad and don't want to say. It has nothing to do with being racist. The N word is well known as the worst thing to say to a person of colour. Everyone knows that. He even shouted out "bitch" to a woman who was presenting that night to. Just imagine how embarrassed and ashamed he must feel for this and was unable to prevent it. The whole reason he was even there was in celebration of the movie about him that promotes awareness, understanding and tolerance for this condition. The fact that people are getting upset over this is beyond stupid and he should certainly not be made to apologies for his disability. 

 

Edited February 26 by Gorehound

[Gorehound 5,426]

On 2/23/2026 at 12:10 PM, weed said:

Jamie Foxx weighs in

Some people are unbelievably stupid.

[Gorehound 5,426]

On 2/23/2026 at 3:18 PM, REALITY said:

So two things can be true: he is not able to control what he says, and for that, there should be understanding and some grace; however, it is also unfair to not think about how it must feel for Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo. They were subjected to the nastiest, most racist remark anyone could make about them in front of not only that entire room, but the world.

To my knowledge, John Davidson has yet to directly come out and apologize about his outbursts, which is shocking imo. Frankly, I don’t understand why people are using *this* instance as a “someone’s mental disability shouldn’t define their actions or character” moment. This conversation has been happening for as long as I can remember. I’ve felt like people generally came to the understanding that even though a person might have a disability, it doesn’t change the results of the actions themselves. So yes, Davidson should be given grace and understanding considering his condition, but it doesn’t change the fact that what he did completely humiliated Jordan and Lindo. 

Everyone in that room was warned before the show that a man with Tourette's was going to attend, who would most likely shout out profanities. As awful as that slur is, I'd hope that they, as adults, were understanding and mature about it. 

Edited February 26 by Gorehound

[Gorehound 5,426]

On 2/23/2026 at 8:31 PM, LateToCult said:

Chile, the BAFTAs should’ve never seated that man anywhere near the stage. And that man should’ve excused himself much sooner than the halfway point once he realized his Tourette’s was acting up. 

So what you're saying here is that people with disabilities that they cant help should be removed from the public because they're a nuisance? Grow a heart man.

[REALITY 79,730]

3 hours ago, Gorehound said:

Everyone in that room was warned before the show that a man with Tourette's was going to attend, who would most likely shout out profanities. As awful as that slur is, I'd hope that they, as adults, were understanding and mature about it. 

Well, they were mature about it. No one denigrated or shamed him about it, including Jordan or Lindo. They were in fact very graceful about it and handled it the best they could. While it's true that Davidson cannot control what he said, it's also true that Jordan and Lindo cannot control what they hear. They heard what they heard and took it in front of the entire audience + the whole world. Similar to how people think it's unfair to blame Davidson, I think it's unfair to dismiss any kind of feelings or emotions people have about being called a racial slur—regardless of intention.

Also though, I mainly put the blame on the BBC. They should have edited that out, and then none of us would be having this conversation. They edited out many other things for that broadcast, but to not edit that out is outrageous.

[Gorehound 5,426]

4 minutes ago, REALITY said:

Well, they were mature about it. No one denigrated or shamed him about it, including Jordan or Lindo. They were in fact very graceful about it and handled it the best they could. While it's true that Davidson cannot control what he said, it's also true that Jordan and Lindo cannot control what they hear. They heard what they heard and took it in front of the entire audience + the whole world. Similar to how people think it's unfair to blame Davidson, I think it's unfair to dismiss any kind of feelings or emotions people have about being called a racial slur—regardless of intention.

Also though, I mainly put the blame on the BBC. They should have edited that out, and then none of us would be having this conversation. They edited out many other things for that broadcast, but to not edit that out is outrageous.

Oh of course. I'm not throwing any shade at Jordan or Lindo at all that was a very unfortunate and unpleasant situation for them to be in and from what I saw they handled it very well, since they new the context. It's a very difficult situation since both sides are innocent. However ye the BBC should have censored it to save both parties from the online backlash.

I'm not a person of colour so I can't speek for the community, but if i were up there accepting an award and Davidson yelled "f*ggot" at me" in front of everyone I'd have laughed it off, knowing the context. Also tbf the whole situation is kinda ridiculous and I'd have found it funny anyway but that's just me. 

 

[Conqueror 27]

As a neurodivergent person, I am grateful that people on here are more understanding than a certain music forum beginning with the letter A. I literally was arguing with 10 different people on there because they thought because John Davidson is a white man who said the slur, that he MUST be racist. smh...

1. John can't help it

2. People with his condition shouldn't be excluded from attending events or going out in public because that's discrimination, illegal in the UK and it's dehumanising.

3. If the BBC were able to censor "Free Palestine", then they're more than capable of censoring the N-word.

4. From what I know, the whole point of the movie, "I Swear", is about how John has spent his entire life apologising for something he physically cannot control. I imagine that he swears 100 times a day and is beyond tired of apologising something. It's not anyway to live to always apologise everytime you say an offensive word.

5. I feel he could have made a private apology to Michael and Delroy and Hannah for saying the N-word and someone from the BBC and the BAFTAs could've spoken to them after. 

6. John saying the N-word doesn't mean he's racist nor does it reflect his personal beliefs. The fact that he's a white man is a coincidence. 

 

[REALITY 79,730]

2 hours ago, Gorehound said:

Oh of course. I'm not throwing any shade at Jordan or Lindo at all that was a very unfortunate and unpleasant situation for them to be in and from what I saw they handled it very well, since they new the context. It's a very difficult situation since both sides are innocent. However ye the BBC should have censored it to save both parties from the online backlash.

I'm not a person of colour so I can't speek for the community, but if i were up there accepting an award and Davidson yelled "f*ggot" at me" in front of everyone I'd have laughed it off, knowing the context. Also tbf the whole situation is kinda ridiculous and I'd have found it funny anyway but that's just me. 

 

I read somewhere that when Alan Cumming was on stage, he yelled a homophobic slur, but that was obviously cut from the broadcast. And knowing how Cumming reacted to the whole Jordan/Lindo situation, I'm sure he wasn't offended by it. It's just insane to me that the BBC failed to take that out of the broadcast...

[Monstermilo 5,429]

people have a right to be upset and ppl should also be graceful....... 

the person who yelled that should apologize just to let ppl know hes sorry............ if i had tourettes and yelled a slur i wouldnt even think twice to apologize and explain myself