John Davidson shouting the N word during the BAFTAS

[Crawse]

John Davidson has Tourettes and is a campaigner for the condition. Whist Michale B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting he shouted out the racial slur. It’s extremely uncomfortable to watch. I feel terrible for the two presenters. I’m really conflicted on this one.

What are your thoughts?

No one should be subjected to abuse. That is my bottom line. Maybe the fact I was called P*** (I’m half Indian) growing up has influenced my views. I obviously recognise Tourette’s is involuntary.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/02/22/entertainment/baftas-2026-tourettes-racist-slur

It seems like a lot of people still need to watch I Swear to see how this debilitating condition affects John’s life.

Disappointing to see so many people who advocate diversity and inclusion in other areas who seem to think he should be shut out of a ceremony where a film that is literally about him has won awards.

Poor John Davidson. I really feel for him. Hopefully those involved can be grown up enough to recognise the condition and show only compassion for him

If he's got tourettes he can't help it can he.

He literally can't help it. The organisers know this and I would hope they briefed the other attendees.

He has a disability. I think allowances for his disability are more important than the hurt feelings of others. I feel really bad for him.

As you are fully aware that it is completely involuntary, then YAB VU

What someone with tourettes shouts when they are vocally ticking is no indication of their internal thoughts or feelings.

As you say it's involuntary, so he can't help it.

Do you think he should be locked away in an institution OP?

You start by saying "No one should be subjected to abuse."

And then end by saying "I obviously recognise Tourette’s is involuntary."

So what are you actually saying? 😳

Also I'm sorry you were subjected to racist abuse but was it by someone with Tourette's or not?

He didn’t shout a racial slur, he had a tick.

The BBC should have edited it out, there was a delay and they managed to edit out comments made by others that don't align to the BBC propoganda machine. Not to attempt to conceal it, but out of respect for those affected. Terrible for Michael, Delroy and others in the room; but awful throwing John to the wolves.

The type of tourettes he has is a neirological condition, he has spent nearly 40 years raising awareness for tourettes and has been open about his experience and trouble and was there to celebrate his film.

The ignorance and attitude from (mainly) Americans on social media is disgusting. The majority acknowledge its awful for those subject to hearing it, but advocating for people to be removed from society in case somoeone is offended by a word they have no control over saying is crazy.

He didn't do anything wrong, he can't help having a neurological condition that causes uncontrollable tics. The word is only offensive when it's used as a slur, which he obviously didn't do as he didn't choose to say it. Hearing the word isn't going to traumatise anyone, much as some people might pretend otherwise. The person most upset by it is probably going to be the poor man with tourettes, it must be an awful condition to live with.

Like I said I’m extremely conflicted. I feel very sorry for the black actors for being subject to racial abuse. Maybe non-poc won’t understand how terrible that feels. They were abused. Intentionally or unintentionally.

This form of Tourettes is so cruel. Anyone who has taken the time to understand it - most likey through John Davidson's own story - knows that this was involuntary and does not signify any racist intent.

I'm also dismayed for Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo having to be confronted by that at that moment.

Grim all round.

Apparently there were 4 football players in the English Premier League who were subjected to disgusting racist abuse on social media this weekend.
Perhaps we should be focusing on that rather than on a man with a known disability who has no control over what he says .

When I was a very young lecturer in my first job, I had a student with Tourette’s in one of my big lecture courses who shouted ‘Cunt! Cunt!’ periodically throughout all lectures. While I won’t deny it was a bit discombobulating, especially as Disability Services were pretty rudimentary back then, and wouldn’t, as now, flag up contextual information on specific conditions academic staff might find helpful in relation to students they were teaching, it was so clearly (1) not his fault, (2) not his opinion of me and (3) obviously causing him so much more distress than it was causing me, that I just dealt with it.

You haven't mentioned the man with the disability and whether you feel sorry for him?

He’s got Tourette’s - watch the film and then you’ll understand. I’m sure he’s mortified about what he shouted out - he can’t help it.
He wasn’t abusing anyone. He can shout out anything at any time.

It was not telecast live. At the very least, they should have edited it out.

One of his ticks appears to be a racial slur.

Tourettes sounds exhausting so I feel for all parties.

I think it definitely should have been edited out at least. It must have felt very distressing and humiliating for Jordan and Lindo. There was absolutely no need to broadcast that.

And the level of abuse a disabled man who has spent his life advocating for others is disgusting. It is possible to acknowledge that this wasn't his fault and that it was horrible for others to have to hear. What are you hoping to hear in this discussion?

I'm sorry but they weren't racially abused. That would require someone to choose to call them a slur which he didn't. Apparently he swore at the queen when she was giving him an award, but luckily she had the common sense to understand that he wasn't abusing her and didn't get upset! According to him "Her Majesty was very kind. She was as calm and assured as my granny. She was very good about it.”

I realise that it's entirely involuntary and must be a very debilitating condition; but I'm curious as to how it's neurally triggered. I know some sufferers find that it presents with them saying/shouting neutral, inoffensive words - like that person on TV who used to keep randomly saying "Biscuits".

Was it just a coincidence that there happened to be two black people presenting when the N-word was shouted? Would it have been just as likely if they'd been white?

Again, I'm not blaming the sufferer at all; but just wondering out loud what happens subconsciously if an offensive word is said specifically 'targeted at' the object of it?

He can't help it. There is a young barber on Facebook with tourettes. He cannot help it if he calls his seven year old client a pedo. Educate yourself. It must be very tiring to deal with it all the time!

I swear is way too long and kind of boring. They paint the other characters other him very weakly and his mates mum is just made out to be a complete saint but with no actual personality or inner workings. Some parts of it are good though.

I honestly don't see why you can't moderate the tics if they're racial slurs etc so you don't say that exact word. It seemed the stuff the guy in I Swear was saying was just meant to be funny. But it's almost like he should've been trying to train himself not to swear. Not not to tic, but just not being so offensive.