Tourette’s Campaigner John Davidson ‘Deeply Mortified’ Opens Up After BAFTAs Scandal

Tourette syndrome campaigner, John Davidson, has opened up after his silence since the incident that had him shouting out racial slurs at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, popularly known as the BAFTAs

Davidson, 54, was sitting in the audience at the ceremony and could be heard shouting the offensive word while two black actors, Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo, stars of the vampire horror Sinners, were on stage presenting the first award of the evening on Sunday night. Both actors seemed to pause after the insult was heard, then go on with their presentation.

Davidson released a statement in which he said he felt “deeply mortified” that anyone would believe his involuntary tics conveyed meaning, speaking of the realities behind his condition and the distress caused by what happened at the awards ceremony.

He also revealed that he has contacted the executives of Sinners in order to apologise to actors Michael and Delroy and production designer Hannah Beachler.

Davidson who suffers from the neurological condition Tourette syndrome, was invited to the ceremony on behalf of the BAFTA-nominated film ‘I Swear’ which is inspired by his moving story, featuring Robert Aramayo, who clinched the Best Actor and Rising Star awards for the role.

He explained in an interview with Variety that his condition, diagnosed at 15 years-old, causes socially unacceptable words to come out as involuntary tics.

“The guilt and shame on the part of the person with the condition is often unbearable and cause enormous distress.

“I can’t begin to explain how upset and distraught I have been as the impact from Sunday sinks in,” he remarked.

Describing the condition, David states, “Very often, the media focuses on my particular type of Tourette’s, which is called coprolalia — the involuntary use of obscene or offensive language. This symptom affects 10% to 30% of people with the condition and is not a criterion for diagnosis.

“However, it is one of the hardest tics to manage and can be very distressing for those living with it. Many individuals report discrimination and isolation as a result,” he said.