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

I'm not. Try reading what I said.

But I do know that Lindo and Jordan are intelligent men, and so I would fully expect them to understand what happened.

You’re probably right, but hey, we won’t let that stop the professionally offended on behalf of other people brigade!

Some people are just thick

Many on this thread it seems!

How are people still not understanding disabilities in 2026?!

If people can extend 'excess sympathy' to Davison then I don't see why that same 'excess sympathy' cannot be extended to them.

Everyone else seems to be speaking for them?

Do you?

This is one of the most racist threads I’ve ever seen on mumsnet and that’s saying something 🤢🤮

Maybe they stop using and hopefully it will pass into oblivion?

I think it IS a point of debate, about how much inconvenience and suffering someone should have to endure due to an other persons disability.

The key for me was that this was an event that JD was invited to as a film about his life had a very realistic chance of winning awards. I'm sure JD or anyone with this form of Tourettes doesn't rock up to huge public events like this without considering the embarrassment that their tic could cause them, and the offence it could cause others.

I'm not sure how this could have been done, but maybe some forewarning for the audience, presenters and winners could have been provided so there wouldn't have been the shock factor?

I certainly don't blame JD, but I also don't think the presenters should be called the N word when they are making a speech on stage either, even if it is a tic from a disability..

It must be dreadful having Torettes.

When i was early teens and Mum or Dad would tell me something serious, like someone had died or had an accident i wouldn't be able to stop smiling. I used to hate myself but no matter how hard I tried, to the point of biting my tongue I couldn't help it.

it was only years later I found it was an involuntary, automatic defense mechanism used by my weird brain to manage extreme stress, shock, or anxiety. Known as nervous laughter, it acted as a release valve for the overwhelming emotions I felt at the time. It wasn't deliberate disrespect or me being insensitive The harder I tried to prevent it happening the worse it was, a bit like when you can't stop laughing at something, I get this too occasionally when I'm not nervous but this is since a TBI so I'mguessing this is something to fo with it. It can be something really daft like a box of junk that my partner wants me to sort through.

Even now when I get very nervous I tend to laugh and cry at the same time.

So I totally feel for that poor man.

He has a condition that makes him say things that are inappropriate. He may also have other tics that make him pull faces etc. In short, he can't help it. What do you suggest he does , stay home and never leave the house?

https://tourette.org/resource/understanding-coprolalia/

"It is crucial to understand that these words or complex phrases do not necessarily reflect the thoughts, beliefs or opinions of the person with coprolalia. Some phrases can be quite complex, often meaningless and even comical. One young man with TS has been known to shout, “Help me, my underwear is on fire!!” Some people with TS do not actually say the inappropriate words out loud, but may repeat them mentally. Although not socially apparent, these individuals find their subvocalized coprolalia distressing. The words are usually expressed in a person’s native language, but it is not uncommon for someone with TS to swear in a language he or she has learned."

Stay at home paid for by the taxpayer or attend an awards ceremony of which you are nominated and have won?

2 BAFTAs regarding his story.

Next you'll be saying I should hit my disabled step brother back when he lashes out due to his disability.

I'll say!!

It's the same knowledge everyone else on the planet has. We all know what slurs are used against women, various races etc. We all know what not to say at airport security, or to the police.
It's those very things that a coprolalia sufferer will be compelled to vocalise.

Sure you are.

I hear you, OP. It’s always black and ethnic minorities that have to be understanding of these things.

Everyone understands it’s involuntary and no one blames John, but we know that had it been a black Tourette’s sufferer shouting racial slurs against white people that many white people would be asking why those racial slurs are being used when white people are on stage.

As if I can control what is being said on this thread.

I hope you really are.

Seems to have really got the racists out in droves. Most POC know this behaviour when we see it because we've seen it all our lives. It's a good barometer for the way this country is going.

I wonder why Tourette’s is so much more common in men than women….

It is one of the worst disability bashing threads on MN

Sympathy for what? It's an unfortunate, uncomfortable situation, not a racial attack. It's patronising to assume that they took it as abuse and can't comprehend context.