John Davidson admits he shouted several 'offensive' tics during the BAFTAs
The Tourette's campaigner has addressed the incident in a new interview
Tourette's activist John Davidson has explained he shouted several 'offensive' tics during the BAFTAs.
Ahead of the awards evening, the film I Swear, which draws on the life of Tourette’s campaigner Davidson, picked up five nominations, including Outstanding British Film and acting recognition for Robert Aramayo, who won Best Actor.
Tourette's is a condition that causes you to make sudden, repetitive sounds or movements (tics). There is no cure, but treatment can help manage the tics, the NHS explains.
During the awards evening on Sunday (22 February), Sinners actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting the first prize of the evening, Best Special Visual Effects, when Davidson shouted a racial slur whilst they were on stage.
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While introducing the category, John had a tic and shouted the N-word from the audience, with the moment appearing in the BBC’s broadcast, which aired with a delay of roughly two hours.
The BBC subsequently came under fire after editing out a section of its coverage in which prize-winning filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr said, 'Free Palestine', while the racial slur remained audible in the same programme.
The broadcaster later issued an apology 'for any offence caused by the language heard' with bosses also apologised that the racial slur 'was not edited out prior to broadcast' and promised it would 'now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer'.
BAFTA also released a statement, apologising to Jordan and Lindo.
Davidson's team have since confirmed to Variety that he has reached out to the studio handling Sinners in order to directly apologise to Jordan, Lindo and production designer Hannah Beachler.
It's also important to note that, earlier in the evening, Davidson had shouted 'shut the f*ck up' during an introductory speech and 'f*ck you' while the Best Children’s And Family Film award was being presented.
He also left the auditorium during the second half of the ceremony of his own volition.
In the new interview with Variety, which was published Tuesday (24 February), Davidson was asked: "When a tic involves a slur or taboo phrase, what’s the single most important thing you want people to understand about the distinction between intent and involuntary neurological response?"
The Tourette's campaigner responded: "I want people to know and understand that my tics have absolutely nothing to do with what I think, feel or believe. It’s an involuntary neurological misfire. My tics are not an intention, not a choice and not a reflection of my values.
"Those who have seen I Swear will understand this. My tics have said and done things over the years that have caused huge pain and upset — punching Dottie [my second mother] in the face is a prime example. Dottie is someone I love dearly. I would never, ever want to hurt her. I have even punched her in the face when she was driving at speed, almost causing a head-on collision."
Davidson explained that Tourette’s '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," he added.
"Tourette’s can feel spiteful and searches out the most upsetting tic for me personally and for those around me. What you hear me shouting is literally the last thing in the world I believe; it is the opposite of what I believe. The most offensive word that I ticked at the ceremony, for example, is a word I would never use and would completely condemn if I did not have Tourette’s."
Outlining the fact that he shouted several offensive words during the awards ceremony, Davidson concluded: "I would appreciate reports of the event explaining that I ticked perhaps 10 different offensive words on the night of the awards.
"The N-word was one of these, and I completely understand its significance in history and in the modern world, but most articles are giving the impression I shouted one single slur on Sunday."
Topics: Health, Entertainment, TV And Film, Celebrity, UK News, Baftas, BBC
Rhiannon Ingle