How Should You Feel About the BAFTAs and John Davidson?

"Medically speaking, Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder involving involuntary tics. Severe forms of the condition like coprolalia, which Davidson possesses, are evident through uttering obscene language and slurs without their control."

"The National Institute of Health explains on its website that tics "may worsen with excitement or anxiety" and that symptoms are "unwanted and unintentional." Additionally, suppressing tics can lead to an opposite result."

"No racism should be excused. Full stop. But there should also be a better understanding of Davidson and his Tourette's, which is often misconstrued as a swearing disorder (and usually for giggles, like in Deuce Bigalow)."

At the 2026 BAFTA Awards, an audible racial slur was uttered from the audience during a presentation by Michael B. Jordan and Delory Lindo. The source was John Davidson, a Scottish activist with Tourette's syndrome attending to support the biopic about his life. Host Alan Cumming briefly acknowledged the incident with a minimal apology, prompting widespread social media backlash against both the outburst and the BAFTAs' response. While condemning racism entirely, the incident underscores the need for greater awareness of Tourette's syndrome, particularly coprolalia—a severe form causing involuntary utterance of obscene language and slurs. Medical research confirms these tics are unwanted, unintentional, and worsen with stress or anxiety.

Read at Esquire