Tourette’s/BAFTAs offensive language

[Lochroy]

I wasn’t watching, I’ve just read the article on BBC news. I will admit I know little of Tourette’s and therefore posting to understand.

The tics agree involuntary, and often use offensive language. But what I’m struggling to get my head around is excusing use of the N word because it was caused by the disability when it was (seemingly) only directed at black people?

Also presumably it’s learned vocab so children don’t have swear words as tics? How does this develop?

Yet several people have said that he should have been segregated so people were not offended by him…

He has apologised. And he left the event early. And his film is all about how his Tourettes causes issues in public. And how he is vilified, beaten up m, excluded etc.

For a sex offender he sure is confident in his nastiness about innocent people

If a person kills someone and intended to do so: murder.

If a person kills someone and didn’t intend to and deeply regrets having done so: manslaughter.

It’s about TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS.

The “problem” as you put it, is that a random third party has been harmed.

Comparing disabled people to people steadfastly incapable of taking responsibility for their actions, or unable to see the difference between and excuse and justification, or fault and blame, or responsibility and fuck-all duties to the people in the society you live in, is pretty insulting. Also, I’d didn’t compare disabled people to children - but your inability to distinguish between a person and a behaviour is evident.

FFS gagging people with a disability??

(edited - sorry that wasn’t to you, but the poster you were responding to)

Nope. That’s false equivalence. Someone in a wheelchair is perfectly visible to everyone. You have no idea how many times I’ve been in my wheelchair in a supermarket and someone has either walked straight into me because they’re looking at their phone, or have stepped back from looking at the shelves and fallen over my chair. Then expected me to apologise. Just no.

Exactly. This thread is very upsetting. I'm shocked and stunned at the ignorance on here. This thread has proved the adage of Mumsnet being deeply racist correct, sadly.

This can’t be a serious comment.

This man’s entire life has been destroyed by his disability. He has attempted suicide.

Yet you actually think that he is using Tourette’s syndrome as a cover for…rascism?

I can’t believe you actually typed that out and hit the post button. Shameful.

And I'm sure he isn't losing sleep over his much more significant crimes.

Yet people are coming for a man who could not control his tics.

But nobody is saying it isn’t hurtful and offensive. Only that the intent to hurt and offend isn’t there, because the word is spoken because of disability - not because they’re racist or bigoted.

Tbh you've caused me upset. You've shown a complete lack of sympathy and understanding towards a disabled man - okay, you've bee far from the only one, today, but overall it's been really horrible to witness.

Btw, are you an American living in the UK?

There is NO intent when JD said that word.

The impact is not his problem, or his fault.

As pointed out, that word is used constantly without outrage because it’s about context, not the word itself.

In what context has JD been racist?

Maybe because the N word originated specifically as a slur to African Americans?

So people can say anything and the resulting impact is not their fault. I see.

This thread is disgusting.

I’m sensing from your posts that even if he had apologised, it wouldn’t have been enough. You can be both horrified on behalf of black people at hearing the word, but equally empathetic towards someone with a disability who had no control over shouting out the offending word, surely?

Intent does not outweigh impact.

Well I’m shocked and stunned and really fucking angry about the ignorance shown about Tourette’s. He CANNOT help it.

Anyone who doesn't understand how a Tourettes sufferer came to shout that word out really needs to watch the film before you comment further.

It's just £3.50 to watch on Youtube:

It's clear that John couldn't help it, and therefore shouldn't be held responsible.

However, the BAFTAs and BBC did have the live show on a delay and so they should have edited it out. That was something they were able to do, and so they should have done it, both to protect John and also so as not to broadcast a deeply offensive word.

And equally, how ableist many posters are…

You obviously don't understand how black people feel. This thread in itself with the racism here is horrifying. Especially when there is no effort made to understand where us black posters are coming from. That lack of empathy is shameful.

Someone has already posted this, but here is Thierry Mabonga, the actor who plays John's lawyer in I swear:

https://x.com/dcrowleyprod/status/2025888778779275645

I have just one thing to say in relation to this incident:

If you suffered from Tourette’s, and it was you who had said this involuntarily, how would you wish to be treated?

There are people demanding he apologises for what he said. In my eyes, he didn’t really say it. He has a medical condition and has no control over the language he uses. Should he spend his whole life feeling guilt, and shame? Is that what people want??? This is what leads to isolation and in some instances, suicide.

Why can’t people have a heart and show compassion. 😢😢

Giyore.

We understand the language is hurtful.

Do you not think those of us with disabilities haven't experienced hurtful language? We have. We get called spazzes, spackers, window lickers, cripples, and all manner of harmful words that come with their own origins.

But we know that if it comes from someone with a tic it isn't coming with intent and so we do not take offense.

The N word comes from horrible origins. We know the history. But it didnt come from JD with intent to harm. Acknowledging that doesn't make us bigoted.

The suggestions that he is segregated, apologises profusely until he's blue in the face and more recently wears a mouth guard by posters across the 2 threads is very bigoted.

Honestly I find you the one entirely lacking in empathy, cruel and pitiless.