Jayme Lawson Condemns BAFTA and BBC Over Tourette's Racism Incident
Sinners actress Jayme Lawson has launched a scathing critique of BAFTA and the BBC, asserting that Tourette's sufferer John Davidson was "exploited" during the recent awards ceremony and that the broadcaster acted with "carelessness" in its handling of the ensuing racism controversy.
The Controversial Outburst at Royal Festival Hall
The incident occurred last month at the BAFTA Film Awards held at London's Royal Festival Hall. John Davidson, a 54-year-old with Tourette's syndrome, involuntarily shouted the N-word while actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage presenting an award. Davidson, who has lived with the neurological condition since age 12, later expressed being "deeply mortified" by the outburst, which he attributed entirely to his involuntary tics.
The BBC faced significant backlash for failing to edit the racial slur from its television coverage, which aired two hours after the live event, prompting a formal apology from the broadcaster.
Lawson's Red Carpet Accusations at NAACP Image Awards
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter on the red carpet at the 57th NAACP Image Awards on Saturday, Lawson did not mince words. "I'll first say a big shout out to Mike and Delroy," she began, praising her co-stars for their "grace and dignity" in handling the situation in real time.
She then turned her focus to the institutions involved: "I think the events this weekend exposed a couple things - Institutionally, we still don't understand what inclusion means. Just because you invite someone into a space, but you don't provide the necessary resources to keep them and everyone else in that room safe by them being there, that's not inclusivity. That's exploitation."
Lawson specifically accused BAFTA of exploiting Davidson's disability: "That man's disability got exploited that night, and it led to multiple offenses. That's the BAFTA's fault. And then the BBC, to air what they aired is careless. And not like some haphazard accident, no, like a real lack of care was exercised for those two Black men."
Selective Censorship and Institutional Hypocrisy
The actress highlighted what she perceived as institutional hypocrisy, noting that the BBC had censored other content while failing to protect Jordan and Lindo. "We know the BBC knows how to take care of what they care about," Lawson stated. "They censored Akinola's speech, the director of My Father's Shadow, which is an amazing film, by the way. So you censored one Black man, you failed to protect two others. You do not care for our dignity, our humanity."
Lawson connected this incident to broader patterns in the industry: "You want to celebrate our art, but you won't protect, and that's why we celebrate Sinners. That's why we celebrate Ryan (Coogler). That's why we show up to the NAACP, because those are spaces where we felt safe, where we feel safe."
Delroy Lindo Breaks His Silence on the Incident
Lawson's comments came shortly after Delroy Lindo himself addressed the controversy at the NAACP Image Awards, where he won Outstanding Supporting Actor for Sinners. The British-born actor thanked fans for their support: "We appreciate – I appreciate – all of the support and love we have been shown in the aftermath of what happened last weekend, it means a lot to us."
Lindo described the NAACP ceremony as "a room where being fully seen is not rare, but it is expected," contrasting it with his BAFTA experience. He framed the situation optimistically: "It's a classic case of something that could've been very negative becoming very positive."
Industry Reactions and Fallout
The incident has generated significant reactions across the entertainment industry:
- Actress Regina Hall referenced Jordan and Lindo during the NAACP awards, saying: "I just want to take a moment to the two kings who are in this audience and just send you so much love for your class."
- Host Deon Cole made a pointed comment: "If there are any white men out here in the audience with Tourette's, I advise you to tell them they can read the room tonight."
- Not all responses were sympathetic. Actor Jamie Foxx wrote on social media: "Out of all the words you could've said Tourette's makes you say that. Nah he meant that s***. Unacceptable."
- Film-maker Jonte Richardson announced he is stepping down as a BAFTA judge over the academy's handling of the incident.
Davidson's Background and Previous Controversies
John Davidson is Britain's most high-profile Tourette's syndrome sufferer, known for his campaign work that earned him an MBE from the late Queen in 2019. His condition causes involuntary cursing, shouting of insults, and physical tics. Ironically, during his own MBE ceremony, he famously shouted "F*** the Queen" – an incident that was incorporated into a film's opening scene.
During the BAFTA ceremony, host Alan Cumming addressed the audience about Davidson's condition: "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."
BBC's Official Response and Ongoing Repercussions
A BBC spokesperson issued an apology stating: "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."
The incident continues to spark conversations about disability accommodations, institutional responsibility, and racial sensitivity in high-profile events, with Lawson's comments adding significant fuel to an already contentious debate about how organizations balance inclusion with protection of all attendees.
