John Davidson Questions BBC and Bafta Over Unedited Tourette's Tics at Film Awards
John Davidson, the Tourette syndrome campaigner whose life inspired the award-winning biopic I Swear, has voiced strong criticism against the BBC and Bafta after a racial slur from his involuntary tics was broadcast during the Bafta Film Awards. Davidson, who attended the ceremony where actor Robert Aramayo won Best Actor for portraying him, revealed he was left "upset and distraught" by the incident, having been assured that any offensive language would be edited out prior to transmission.
Incident During Presentation by Sinners Stars
During the awards ceremony held at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday, Davidson experienced an involuntary tic that involved shouting the N-word while actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan were presenting a prize. Host Alan Cumming addressed the audience, explaining that a person with Tourette syndrome was present and had no control over their language. However, despite the broadcast being on a delay, the racial slur was not removed from the televised version later that evening.
In his first interview about the Baftas, Davidson told Variety that StudioCanal, the film studio behind I Swear, had worked closely with Bafta, and both parties had assured him that any swearing would be edited from the broadcast. He expressed disappointment, stating, "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... from being included in the broadcast."
Apologies and Internal Reviews
Following the event, a BBC spokesperson issued an apology, acknowledging that some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language. They clarified that this arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome and was not intentional. The spokesperson added, "We apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it has been removed from BBC iPlayer." In an internal memo, BBC staff were informed that the slur had aired "in error" as producers had not heard the word, and another instance had been cut from the broadcast.
Bafta also apologised, announcing that a "comprehensive review" was underway and taking "full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation." They extended apologies to Lindo and Jordan, who had reportedly not been spoken to by Bafta representatives after the incident. Davidson revealed he had reached out to the studio behind Sinners, Warner Bros, to apologise to Lindo, Jordan, and production designer Hannah Beachler, whom he also shouted the slur at during the ceremony.
Understanding Davidson's Condition
Davidson suffers from coprolalia, a form of Tourette's that involves involuntary cursing or making socially inappropriate remarks. He explained that his tics are often triggered by his surroundings and have no relation to his personal beliefs. "Tourette's can feel spiteful and searches out the most upsetting tic for me personally and for those around me," he said. "What you hear me shouting is literally the last thing in the world I believe; it is the opposite of what I believe."
During the Baftas, Davidson experienced echolalia, a part of the condition that led him to shout "perhaps 10 different offensive words," including homophobic comments and "paedophile" directed at Alan Cumming. He left the auditorium shortly after realising Lindo and Jordan had heard his tic from the stage. Davidson emphasised, "The most offensive word that I ticked at the ceremony, for example, is a word I would never use and would completely condemn if I did not have Tourette's."
Aftermath and Removal from Streaming
In response to the backlash over the decision to include the slur in the broadcast, the BBC removed the Bafta Film Awards from its streaming service, iPlayer. Davidson questioned the placement of a microphone near his seat, stating, "With hindsight I have to question whether this was wise, so close to where I was seated, knowing I would tic." Warner Bros confirmed that it had immediately flagged its concern with Bafta during the ceremony and was assured the request would be passed to the BBC for removal, which did not occur as promised.
The incident has sparked broader discussions about preparedness and sensitivity in broadcasting events involving individuals with neurological conditions, highlighting the need for better protocols to handle such situations in the future.
