John Davidson speaks out after shouting racial slur during BAFTAs

During the awards last night, Davidson, who has Tourette syndrome, shouted the N-word as Sinners actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan presented the award for special visual effects at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday.

The moment led to Jordan momentarily freezing upon hearing the word, before continuing.

“Good evening. Delroy and I are delighted to be presenting the first BAFTA of the night for a vital part of movie making,” he said.

Delroy then continued: “We’re here to celebrate the artists who expand what’s possible on screen.”

The slur was shouted by John Davidson, who is diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, and was in the BAFTAs audience as he’s the subject of the biopic, I Swear.

Alan Cumming, presenter of the award ceremony, later issued an apology for the language viewers may have heard.

He said: “You may have heard some strong and offensive language tonight. If you have seen the film I Swear, you will know that film is about the experience of a person with Tourette syndrome.

“Tourette syndrome is a disability and the tics you have heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette syndrome has no control over their language. We apologise if you were offended.”

Delroy Lindo spoke to Vanity Fair at a BAFTA afterparty, saying that he and Michael B. Jordan ‘did what we had to do’, however he added that he wished ‘someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterwards’.

In a statement issued to Deadline, Davidson says he is “deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning.”

“I was in attendance to celebrate the film of my life, I Swear, which, more than any film or TV documentary, explains the origins, condition, traits, and manifestations of Tourette Syndrome,” he said.

“I have spent my life trying to support and empower the Tourette’s community and to teach empathy, kindness, and understanding from others, and I will continue to do so. I chose to leave the auditorium early into the ceremony as I was aware of the distress my tics were causing.”

BAFTA has also released a statement, saying it “apologises unreservedly” to Lindo and Jordan, and thanked them for their “incredible dignity and professionalism”.

“We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation, and we apologise to all,” the statement said.

“We will learn from this and keep inclusion at the core of all we do, maintaining our belief in film and storytelling as a critical conduit for compassion and empathy.” 

BAFTA added that Davidson “chose to leave the auditorium and watch the rest of the ceremony from a screen” after the incident.

“We would like to thank him for his dignity and consideration of others, on what should have been a night of celebration for him,” they added.

The film I Swear, which is inspired by the experiences of John Davidson, won two BAFTA awards, with the film winning Best Casting and Robert Aramayo picking up Best Actor in a Leading Role.

Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by multiple, involuntary, and repetitive muscle movements and sounds known as tics.