John Davison BAFTA Tourette’s incident and competing rights

For the thousandth time, I didn’t say he should apologise, I said in that five paragraph statement he put out, he could’ve said ‘MBJ and DL, I wish you didn’t have to experience that word on your own special night, a word which I fully acknowledge and understand the painful connotations of’. How fucking difficult is that??

No. That doesn't hold true. He said the N word because they were black. I doubt he would have said the N word if there were two white women up on stage instead. The tic was triggered by the people on stage, so yes, it was at them, or because of them, if that sounds better to you.

That isn't to say he had intent, or that he's to blame, or that he was being racist.

But verbal Tourette's tics are clearly frequently directed towards specific individuals, not just random obscene words shouted into the air (although I'm sure they can be that too)!

Yes, I do think that what he said was neutral. That is the whole point of understanding his condition. There is no meaning behind the words.

I thought perhaps that you were talking about BAFTA acknowledging their feelings, but you genuinely think JD should acknowledge their feelings? If he bumped into somebody while having an epileptic fit, should he apologise afterwards?

Lol you’re literally agreeing with me but ok. He said ‘fuck you Queen’ because he was with the queen, he didn’t say it in the supermarket. He said he had a bomb because he was in an airport, he wouldn’t have said that sitting on his sofa at home. He yelled the N word because he saw two black men onstage. Unintentionally and due to his tic but let’s not pretend the people in front of him are totally irrelevant.

And of course the onus is entirely on the two black men to show grace and absolutely none on JD to recognise how they might’ve felt in that moment.

I'm not trying to impress you, merely trying to give you enough space to explain your poorly thought out arguments, and look less silly.

I think you’ve totally missed the point actually. I have my point of view and I don’t need yours forced on me.

To tic 'at' them there would need to be intent and there wasn't.

You might as well talk about somebody having an epileptic fit 'at' somebody.

Lol you’re literally agreeing with me but ok. He said ‘fuck you Queen’ because he was with the queen, he didn’t say it in the supermarket. He said he had a bomb because he was in an airport, he wouldn’t have said that sitting on his sofa at home. He yelled the N word because he saw two black men onstage. Unintentionally and due to his tic but let’s not pretend the people in front of him are totally irrelevant.

And of course the onus is entirely on the two black men to show grace and absolutely none on JD to recognise how they might’ve felt in that moment.

Yes, the onus is on the two famous actors to show grace to the man who has a life destroying condition.

Nice try, but that's a fail.

And Cypress Hill are Latino American, not black. I very much enjoy their music, but I don't say the N word. Even B-Real no longer uses it in live performances these days.

You really are missing the point spectacularly and so many people have tried to explain to you but you are remaining willfully ignorant.

Lol you’re literally agreeing with me but ok. He said ‘fuck you Queen’ because he was with the queen, he didn’t say it in the supermarket. He said he had a bomb because he was in an airport, he wouldn’t have said that sitting on his sofa at home. He yelled the N word because he saw two black men onstage. Unintentionally and due to his tic but let’s not pretend the people in front of him are totally irrelevant.

And of course the onus is entirely on the two black men to show grace and absolutely none on JD to recognise how they might’ve felt in that moment.

Imagine if it were a BAFTA award being given to a documentary on the grooming (child rape and torture) gangs, and on stage are some of the victims who contributed their stories.

Someone with Tourette's in the audience shouts the c-word, whore and slag.

It wouldn't be that person's fault, at all. He has no control over it. But it's still unacceptable for those on stage, who will feel shocked and humiliated in front of an audience of powerful people.

So, on balance, I would have set up a separate luxury viewing room (with chosen drinks and snacks) at the Royal Festival Hall for him and his chosen friends and family. I'd ask him who he'd like to meet and do my best to make it happen during the evening.

If he really wanted to be introduced to, say, Idris Elba or Princess Catherine, then they'd come and say hello in his private room, and be very thoroughly briefed and ready for the worst possible expletives.

I see this as the least worst option in a very difficult situation. Not segregation.

Experience having the N word yelled at them onstage in a room full of their peers in front of a global audience. What are you not getting?

People can choose to be upset by the use of the word in both scenarios, neither or pick and choose, that’s their prerogative. My POV is not to use it in any context but if you think a neutral/positive use in a song is the same as what I described above, there’s no point continuing this.

Their feelings were not acknowledged by JD who released a statement 99% about himself with no direct mention of them. Their feelings certainly haven’t been acknowledged on threads like this where they’ve been told to grow up and get over it because they’re rich celebrities.

What you’re not getting is that having Tourette’s means you will involuntarily blurt out the worst possible thing you could say in any given situation.

So, when JD’s tic made him shout ‘Fuck the Queen!’ at the Queen it was because he knew that was the worst possible thing he could say in that situation.

The only relevant context here is that a man with a disability displayed symptoms of that disability. As I’ve said before, once they knew the situation, it was on MJ and the other fella to show a bit of grace.

I have explained.

I can't believe how ableist this is.

Next thing, why don't we put special stamps on people with Tourette's, ya know, so "normal people" can stay miles away from them and have their feelings protected.

Christ.

Imagine if it were a BAFTA award being given to a documentary on the grooming (child rape and torture) gangs, and on stage are some of the victims who contributed their stories.

Someone with Tourette's in the audience shouts the c-word, whore and slag.

It wouldn't be that person's fault, at all. He has no control over it. But it's still unacceptable for those on stage, who will feel shocked and humiliated in front of an audience of powerful people.

So, on balance, I would have set up a separate luxury viewing room (with chosen drinks and snacks) at the Royal Festival Hall for him and his chosen friends and family. I'd ask him who he'd like to meet and do my best to make it happen during the evening.

If he really wanted to be introduced to, say, Idris Elba or Princess Catherine, then they'd come and say hello in his private room, and be very thoroughly briefed and ready for the worst possible expletives.

I see this as the least worst option in a very difficult situation. Not segregation.

You have to explain what I have said that is racist and why, rather than just an opinion you don't like.

Is it racist because I like hip hop?

Is it racist because I am not so per formatively offended as you?

I am listening.