Comedian criticised for making Tourette's joke about BAFTAs slur incident

Deon Cole has found himself in hot water after making a joke about last week's BAFTAs mishap.

The American comedian hosted the NAACP Image Awards at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Saturday (27 February), a ceremony honouring outstanding performances in film, television, theatre, music, and literature, as voted for by the NAACP members.

There, Cole opened the show with a monologue in the style of prayer.

He prayed to the Lord to keep actress Teyana Taylor 'single, and away from 6'3 green-eyed men', referencing her split from Iman Shumpert. Cole also asked God to bless 50 Cent 'with some more petty ideas', alluding to the rapper's relentless trolling of Sean 'Diddy' Combs, and to bless Nicki Minaj, who he said 'has been going through a lot lately', hinting at her recent support of Republican leader, Donald Trump.

Cole opened the show with a prayer (Earl Gibson III/Deadline via Getty Images)

Ending his prayer, the 54-year-old comic joked: "Oh, yeah, Lord. Lord, before we go. Lord, if there are any white men in the room with Tourette's, I advise you to tell them to read the room, Lord. It might not go the way they thinketh."

Met with a mixed response of awkward laughter and chatter amongst the audience, the funnyman went on to add: "Whatever medicine they own, they better double up on it."

Cole's comments came a week after a racial slur was uttered (and later, broadcast by the BBC) by a guest to the 2026 BAFTAs who suffers from Tourette's syndrome.

John Davidson, a campaigner for the condition - which triggers sudden, repetitive sounds or movements (tics) - attended the British film festival on the Sunday prior (22 February) alongside the cast of I Swear.

Davidson later apologised for his tic (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

The blockbuster had been inspired by Davidson's incurable health battle and his lifelong strive to raise awareness of Tourette's.

During the show, when Sinners actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo took to the stage to present the Best Special Visual Effects award, Davidson was heard yelling the N-word from the audience.

The controversial moment was aired by the BBC without being bleeped out hours later, despite divisive political statements like 'Free Palestine' being removed from the show.

The broadcaster subsequently issued an apology - as did Davidson, who later told Variety that his condition 'can make my body or voice do things I don’t mean, and sometimes those tics land on the worst possible words'.

"I want to be really clear that the intent behind them is zero. What you’re hearing is a symptom — not my character, not my thought, not my belief."

The slur was uttered when Jordan and Lindo took to the stage (Tristan Fewings/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA)

Despite many audience members over the weekend laughing at Cole's latest tongue-in-cheek remark on the incident, his joke didn't go down too well with some social media users.

Many have criticised the star for poking fun at Davidson, who left the auditorium during the second half of the ceremony of his own volition last week.

One user hit out: "Rich ppl aren’t ur friends. It doesn’t matter if they share the same skin colour, religion, sexual or gender identity. no matter what u think of this situation, seeing a room full of incredibly privileged millionaires mocking a working class disabled man...should make u sick."

Another wrote: "It certainly does make me sick, what are they planning for an encore? Tipping people out of their wheelchairs! How disgusting."

A third went on: "Mocking a disability, Bravo. This from a community that have been mistreated; oppressed and have had to fight for equality.

Cole has since been criticised for his comments (Earl Gibson III/Deadline via Getty Images)

"This isn't the flex you think it is and is arming those who oppose to equality."

"Making fun of people with disabilities is not funny and he did not have to say it in a racist way either, this is very shameful," wrote another.