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?

@canklesmctacotits I would have thought that the BBC, BAFTA and the gentleman involved should apologise to the two black actors involved
Why is the onus on the actors to have to make statements ?
Where is the compassion for these two men ?

Well it’s not because you’re acquainted with these people and can recognise it in a crowd. They aren’t and can’t.

You don’t seem able to take in the nuance - it’s involuntary and about profanity and social taboos

you haven’t got Tourette’s so no you wouldn’t

I went absailing once in a group with a boy with Tourette’s - he was looking over the side of the wall and saying “your gonna fall your gonna fall” as I was descending

It was Americans who were most offended and I'm guessing that none of them had seen the film. I'm chuffed to bits that Robert Aramayo won Best Actor for his portrayal of John Davidson, because it was so believable, and also very moving. It showed how unbelievably tiring it must be having to live with it. If a white man working in a community centre can see past being called a paedo, I'm sure two black actors at the top of their game could see past what they were called too. In fact, the two actors on stage aren't the ones who have called it out. It's people who weren't even in the sodding room.

People with Tourette's aren't the problem, it's the people around them taking offence who are the problem. John Davidson had every right to be in that audience last night. He's lived with this fucking disease since he was 14. People should stop clutching pearls and thank God it's not them living with it every day.

Why shouldn’t he ?

Are you actually for real?? He isn't racist. Having tourettes is a reason to have the most inappropriate, offensive thing to come out of your mouth at the worst possible time.
Jesus, are you that unaware?

But having Tourette’s ≠ racist thinking. What a strange comment to make.

Look, it sounds different with Tourette’s. It comes out unbidden at a rate of noughts, it’s like…a sneeze or something maybe? It has none of the tone of an insult. It just forces itself out.

My child has had it since age ten. So I do know.

People will fawn all over someone depicting a disability in a film but have no tolerance for an actual disability.

There are no 'sides' in this so I don't know why it's so polarised all over the internet (except for the fact that it's the internet). It's possible to uphold the fact that it is an offensive term and the reasons for that, and also to recognise that he didn't not choose to do this and in fact left because he was struggling with his tics. I saw one woman with the big innocent eyes trying to bring 'nuance' to it but led with questioning why the term is in his vocabulary - so disingenuous. And he should not ever have had to stay away from this event. People need to watch the goddamn film.

No it isn't.
It is a reason people shout out racist slurs though.

So if he calls his mum a cunt he’s a misogynist?

@whereismyhusbandInstead of arrogantly arguing with everyone here, why don’t you actually watch the film - it might just open your eyes?

No one should have to apologise for their medical condition. Ever.

Shocked by the fallout and shocked by many on this thread too. Everyone needs to watch this film.

No - he has a cultural understanding that this would be a very bad thing to say, so guess what his brain does…

You so fully can’t grasp that there’s nuance here.

So segregate him/treat him like a problem instead of the same as everyone else?

remember when Merlin wanted to change the fast pass a few weeks ago & the world & his wife were outraged that their kids couldn’t go anymore cos they can’t stand in line. Mumsnet was full of people arguing the point of reasonable accommodations.

yes I am sure it was unpleasant in the moment to the two actors giving the awards out but I am pretty sure they will be pretty understanding once explained. Context is important, John had no control over what he said & was not racially abusing them

You think people advocating for how wounding and hurtful that would be to stand on a prestigious stage in front of all your professional peers and have that word shouted at you is ‘clutching pearls’. Ffs. That’s just outrageous.

They were warned in advance. It had happened several times already during the evening.

I didn’t mean it like that - you were frustrating me with your black and white thinking

I was meaning you are stumped because you don’t seem to have understanding of Tourette’s

The continued wilful ignorance is really distressing.

The dehumanisation of these two men by some in this thread is shocking.

Some words are so shocking that they can't help have an impact on someone though...like hearing the 'n' word as a black person. Saying that the 2 black actors should not have taken offence due to his tourettes is ridiculous. You can't equate it to being told to fuck off or being called a dick.

Do you not understand, it makes you say the worse thing possible at any given moment?
So going through airport security you might shout 'I've got a bomb!'
Meeting the queen you might shout 'fuck the queen!' (as he did).
Walking past the police in the street you might shout 'I've got drugs!'
Even children in school my shout that their female teacher has a big cunt.
Are you really not getting this?

Not you could criticise the BBC for not editing it out, that would be a fair discussion to have and one I think with no clear cut right answer, you may disagree, and that's fair. But you seem to be completely unable or unwilling to understand the nature of tourettes and how it affects this man and that's just ignorance.

What an utterly outrageous thing to say about a disabled man who cannot help it. Shame on you.