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

Much easier for the queen to be all gracious and rise above than PoC.
Course they had no choice.

I can well imagine John Davidson felt worse about that than anyone else. I'm sure he didn't mean any harm and I am VERY sure he didn't intend to shout that word at them.

It is still a tick.

I do feel so sorry for John Davidson as he cannot control it at all. However, as you say, no one should be subjected to racist slurs, intentional or not. It was extremely humiliating for Jordan and Lindo and of course, not something they should be subjected to. I don’t think BAFTA should have told John Davidson he couldn’t be there as he is an incredible award winning actor who deserves to be there and it would be disability discrimination. But perhaps, knowing his condition and knowing that was likely to happen, he could have left the room voluntarily while the 2 men were on the stage so as to spare them the racist abuse.

It is exhausting, there is a reason why the suicide rate is so high for those that have tourettes. If you 'educate yourself' which seems to be the go to phrase then you would know why given the type of tourettes he has he said this.

I'm wondering if they felt conflicted celebrating a film about a disabled man and campaigner of 40 years, and then cutting out one of the results of him having that disability?

In one way it's like completely accepting people with Tourette's and in another, saying they should be ashamed of it.

I'm not saying they should or shouldn't have cut it out btw, just that I can see the dilemma.

You need to educate yourself op. This was not abuse, it’s a tick. It’s a disability.not intentional. Instead of coming on here trying to whip up some sort of reaction, how about you watch the film or read up a bit on this condition.

and I’m sure the black actors there understood that this is Tourette’s. You won’t see one of them complaining about a person’s disability. They will be understanding unlike yourself.

I'm not white, and my dd has tourettes, so I understand from both sides.

It's 100% involuntary. It wasn't abuse, it was a tic. The actors presenting will know it was involuntary.

I don't think you understand tourettes as well as you think you do.

He couldn't help it as much as you couldn't prevent a yawn or a hiccup.

yabvu. He cannot stop it, I’m sure his insides were twisting when he was invited.
My DS friend is a sufferer, his body contorts trying to hold things in. I hope it highlights the pain it causes sufferers and brings more support.

Don't know anything about this guy but if he has Tourette maybe live TV isn't for him.

Tourettes or not he shouted an offensive racial slur. He didn't shout wankers, cunt, shit buggers, motherfucker. He shouted the n word. I agree it should have been edited out, not doing so condones it as part of the common vocabulary.

I grew up having racial slurs shouted at me in the playground and out of school by kids on bikes. My parents had slurs shouted at them in shops and high streets by adults. We are quickly slipping back to those times.

It wasn't live. That's why I think it should have been edited out.

He left immediately afterwards.

The solution isn't to make him hide away when there is a black person, or a woman, or a disabled person or a gay person around just in case his tic is a slur.

Nobody can predict what tic will appear and when.

Honestly this is a very ignorant comment

I would say I know that if I had a condition that made me shout out abusive terms at people I would, of my own volition, avoid events like this.

I feel very sorry for those at the receiving end and for John Davidson himself. BBC should have cut it from the transmission.

I'm interested in people saying that since he has a neurological condition, he can't help it. Since no malice was intended then I assume no punishment should be expected either. As someone else said, should he be in an institution to spare others' from the harm his tics cause? How far does one take that?
Tourette's can also cause motor tics that result in slapping, pinching, touching people in a way that the individual has no control over. Would someone who had been slapped or touched inappropriately due to a tic be expected to accept it in the same way the POC presenters have to accept the harm of having that word shouted at them?

Perhaps so, I'm just intrigued to understand how far acceptance goes when neurological conditions cause illegal behaviour?

Agreed.

You don’t seem to have any idea how his condition works. I’m sure he’d have ‘moderated’ his tics if he could over the last 40 years so his life wouldn’t have been ruined by them.

Tic

Not tick

Or maybe if you can't cope with people who cannot help it saying something rude then you should stay home. That was the award ceremony for a film about that mans life. He had more right to be there than anyone.

well that’s not really practical is it, people need to live, go out, shop, work. the clients of the hairdresser will understand it’s not voluntary and it’s a disability

Why should he be banned from an awards ceremony that is celebrating a film about his life?

That is segregation.