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

Stepping out for 5 minutes would make no difference. In fact it would have likely made things worse.

Worse for who? Not Jordan and Lindo.

Worse for everyone because his tics would have got worse.

You don’t know that.

But it's not worse, because 1) there was no intent to cause offense and 2) the condition is not limited to people who would be offended by that particular word.

So John could have stepped out and avoided this particular incident, but when he steps back in and (for example) a female presenter is on stage and he has a tic, what then?

The only way to avoid it happening is for him to lock himself away which obviously cannot and should not happen.

I'm very aware of what tourettes is like, I've been living with my dd who has had it for the best part of a decade.

They shouldn’t have been heard across the world. It should have been explained to those in the audience and that should have been that.

It’s much worse to black people. Sad that you don’t see that. It’s not John’s fault but of course people are going to want to avoid it happening again.

Agreed that it should not have been broadcast.

@nomas I guess it’s a matter of opinion, but personally I don’t think you can draw a clear distinction between different peoples experiences of hearing slurs.

No doubt it was shocking and hurtful for those powerful actors and set designers to be called that word, at an international awards ceremony with people watching. However, it was explained to attendees and viewers that there was a person with TS present who was also being honoured, and there were cameras and oversight and context all of which have meant there is accountability and discussions and explanations.

I’m not sure there is a meaningful comparison to be made between that experience and the experience of a black kid being called that slur in front of a playground full of his peers at school if John was walking past the school gates, or for a disabled person to be called a similarly harmful slur on a bus full of strangers, without the context of wealth, status, explanations and TV cameras.

Why is it worse? Seriously, why? Why was this incident worse than him swearing at the Queen, or anyone, in fact?

Note that I am not saying that, under normal circumstances, that it is ok to use that word. I'm also saying it's not acceptable to use any sort of offensive, prejudical word against anyone.

But.... the key thing is intent, and you just can't grasp that, can you, and so you are just coming back to your own inacceptance of a disabled person.

Another time he could have shouted 'big tits' or ' fuck off twats' or 'stupid hair' or anything. If he had said anything like that we wouldn't be having this discussion.

I bet my house you’d have something to say if he’d screamed “spastic” at a presenter with physical disabilities or “suck my cock” at a female one.

I'm not sure why you keep insisting there's some sort of hierarchy and giving offense to black people sits in the top spot.

No - because yet again, it's a tic, not an intent to deliberately hurt or offend.

This thread is disgusting

That poor man can't help that he shouted out something inappropriate

That's how his condition works.

My friend's brother called a vicar a "kiddie fiddler" because it was the most inappropriate thing to say

BBC had to edit out "Free Palestine" because they are supposed to be politically neutral but they left this in because it highlighted the issues John faces. It is neither the BBC not John's fault that racists have made him a meme. That's on them entirely and you're wrong to imply anything else

Yep

The same thing as here

"It's unfortunate and I'm sorry you are offended but it's not his choice"

I have interviewed someone with Tourettes. He did make a comment that I would have found offensive if he hadn't had the condition. I ignored it because I had been told, prior to the interview, that he might make an inappropriate comment. Believe me, in my working life I have had all sorts of comments made, lots of bad language, and aggression.

There is no hierarchy but two of the most common racist slurs in the UK are the n word and P word, as shown by the frequency with which Tommy Robinson and Reform supporters use them.

What is an equivalent word for white people? There just isn’t one.

So of course hearing the N word at an event watched globally is going to raise questions.

And the blasé response from many on this thread, that black people just need to deal with it, needs calling out.

What needs calling out is the way an individual who has a medical condition which has ruined his life is being pilloried.

That's where you're misunderstanding it - no-one is saying that black people, specifically, have to "deal with it".
People are saying that this is an involuntary tic, and anyone at the receiving end should understand that.
John didn't do it on purpose, he can't help it and he didn't mean it, any more than someone having a seizure would be to blame if they spilled your drink when falling over.
That should be the end of it, but far too much outrage mileage to be had I guess - just horrible that it's at the expense of a disabled man, and not someone with the money and influence of most of the celebrities there, either.

Nobody is saying that only black people need to deal with it.

Anyone who is around someone with a disability they can't control needs to deal with it in the moment, and they can choose to remove themselves from the situation after if they wish.

Everyone was warned beforehand about the tics, John removed himself afterwards, but you expect people with tourettes to remove themselves from any situation where they may say something inappropriate beforehand, and somehow get over their urge to tic in 5 minutes, as well as predicting the future of what they will say, to who, and when.

Your lack of even the most basic understanding of involuntary tics is astounding. My neighbours 4yo child gets it more than you do.

I would say the same thing.
It's not a conscious response. He didn't shout it deliberately.

When I was young the contemptuous term for a white person was 'honky'. I've not heard the term for some while but it was in common usage in the 1970s.

No hierarchy, then go on to explain that there is indeed, a hierarchy, and it doesn’t include white people.