During last night’s (22 February) BAFTA ceremony, a racial slur was shouted out by a Tourette’s campaigner.
Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage when John Davidson experienced involuntary tics picked up on the TV broadcast.
A clarification and apology were swiftly issued by host Alan Cumming, and now an attendee has spoken out.
Hannah Beachler is an American production designer who was nominated at the BAFTAs for her work on Sinners.
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Davidson is the inspiration behind the film I Swear and was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome in his teens, with his symptoms including tics that often involve cursing.
While at London's Royal Festival Hall, he had reportedly also yelled out the likes of ‘shut the f**k up’ before being said to have eventually left the ceremony.
Tourette's affects one in 100 school children, and there are 300,000 children and adults living with the condition in the UK.
Having had an outburst of the N-word, which has since gone viral online, Beachler claims it ‘happened three times’ as she describes the situation as ‘almost impossible’.
“And one of the three times was directed at myself on the way to dinner after the show,” she wrote on X.
“And a third time at a Black woman. I understand and deeply know why this is an impossible situation.
"I know we must handle this with grace and continue to push through.
“But what made the situation worse was the throw away apology of ‘if you were offended’ at the end of the show.”
The designer continued: “Of course we were offended...but our frequency, our spiritual vibration is tuned to a higher level than what happened.
"I am not steal [sic], this did not bounce off of me, but I exist above it. It can't take away from who I am as an artist.”
Following Davidson’s tics, Cumming gave a clarification for the strong language heard as he said: “This can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people as the film explores that experience.
“Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone.”
The host later issued a further statement to explain: “Tourette’s Syndrome is a disability and the tics you’ve heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette’s Syndrome has no control over their language. We apologise if you are offended tonight.”
What is coprolalia (involuntary swearing)?
Coprolalia affects one in 10 people with Tourette's syndrome, and it means they will involuntarily blurt out obscene language.
The Tourette Association of America writes: "Particularly embarrassing for some individuals with coprolalia are involuntary outbursts within social contexts, such as racial or ethnic slurs in the company of the very people who would be most offended by such remarks.
"A minority of people with coprolalia have this particular problem. It is crucial to understand that these words or complex phrases do not necessarily reflect the thoughts, beliefs or opinions of the person with coprolalia."
The CDC emphasises that people with Tourette's cannot control their tics, saying many people compare it to 'having an itch or having to sneeze'.
The website explains: "You may try to stop the feeling, but eventually you will probably scratch or sneeze and you will feel a little better until the urge comes back.
"When people try to hold back their tics, it can cause stress, and the tic may become worse."
Who is John Davidson?
Davidson was the subject of 1989 BBC documentary John's Not Mad, which followed him as a 16-year-old schoolboy diagnosed with severe Tourette's syndrome.
He appeared in several follow-up documentaries as he grew up, and his story has been adapted into the film I Swear.
Robert Aramayo stars as Davidson and won Best Actor at the BAFTAs last night, beating out Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke and Michael B Jordan.
Davidson went on to be honoured with an MBE in 2019, and due to his nerves exacerbating his tics, he swore in front of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
He told the BBC: "I began ticcing and shouting and I was absolutely mortified.
"But then I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was one of the Royal Archers, the Queen's bodyguards while she's in Holyrood, and a voice said 'Don't stress, she knows all about your condition'.
"That to me was huge because I've struggled so much with everyday life, with people misunderstanding, and if the Queen of the United Kingdom can understand and ignore the tics and the swear words then why can't the rest of society?"
LADbible Group has contacted BAFTA for comment.
Topics: BAFTAs, Film, TV and Film
Jess Battison