John Davidson, the Tourette’s campaigner who is the subject of I Swear, has said he is “deeply mortified” by his N-word outburst at the BAFTAs.
On Sunday night (February 22), Davidson was in attendance at the awards ceremony to support the film, which tells the story of his life, and at several points, the involuntary tics associated with his condition were loudly audible in the Royal Festival Hall.
On one occasion, he was heard shouting the N-word while Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting the award for Best Visual Effects, while he also said “shut the fuck up” during BAFTA chair Sara Putt’s speech, and “fuck you” to the directors of Best Children’s and Family Film winner Boong.
Now, Davidson has issued a statement on the issue, writing: “I wanted to thank BAFTA and everyone involved in the awards last night for their support and understanding and inviting me to attend the broadcast. I appreciated the announcement to the auditorium in advance of the recording, warning everyone that my tics are involuntary and are not a reflection of my personal beliefs. I was heartened by the round of applause that followed this announcement and felt welcomed and understood in an environment that would normally be impossible for me.”
“In addition to the announcement by Alan Cumming, the BBC and BAFTA, I can only add that I am, and always have been deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning,” he added.
He went on to explain that I Swear “explains the origins, condition, traits and manifestations of Tourette Syndrome,” before concluding: “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.”
Tourette’s syndrome causes sudden and involuntary sounds or movements, known as tics, and as explained by Tourette’s Action in a statement today, the tics are “not a reflection of a person’s beliefs, intentions or character” and are “neurological, not intentional”.
Davidson has had Tourette’s since he was 12 years old and as depicted in I Swear, he has become a celebrated campaigner, activist and educator on the subject.
Lindo has since said that he wished someone from BAFTA had spoken to him and Jordan after the N-word incident, but said that they both “did what we had to do” while delivering their speech.
Attendees at the ceremony have said that they were warned ahead of the show of Davidson’s condition, but Variety have reported that none of the nominees or presenters were contacted by BAFTA ahead of the show.
BAFTAs host Alan Cumming issued an apology from the stage during the show, saying: ““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 apologize if you are offended tonight.”
The show was broadcast by the BBC on a two-hour tape delay, but the use of the N-word was not edited out of the show, for which the BBC have since apologised, and it has now been edited out of the version of the show that is streaming on BBC iPlayer.
At the ceremony, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another dominated, winning six awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. But it was I Swear star Robert Aramayo that caused one of the biggest upsets in BAFTA history by winning Best Actor for portraying Davidson, beating out Hollywood heavyweights Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet. Aramayo also won the BAFTA Rising Star Award.
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