BAFTAs host Alan Cumming was forced to issue an apology after Sunday’s ceremony was interrupted after a Tourette’s activist yelled out a racial slur while Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award.
John Davidson was at the BAFTAs after the film I Swear picked up five nominations, after telling the story of Davidson’s life with Tourette’s.
The disorder causes you to make sudden, repetitive sounds or movements (tics). While there is no cure for the condition, symptoms can be managed through treatment.
Those with Tourette’s can also experience the symptom known as ‘coprolalia’, which is found in between 10 and 30 percent of those with the syndrome.
The symptom involves the involuntary yelling of strong language, which can include racial slurs.
Jordan and Lindo were on stage presenting an award when Davidson shouted the N word, while he could also be heard yelling ‘f*ck you’ and ‘shut the f*ck up’ during other intervals.
Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson (Dave Benett/WireImage)
The acting pair visibly paused after hearing the slur before continuing with presenting the award for Best Special Visual Effects, which was the first accolade of the evening.
Cummings, who hosted the BAFTAs at London’s Royal Festival Hall, issued an apology during the show after the slurs were picked up on camera.
The Traitors US host said: “You may have noticed some strong language in the background. 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.
“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 BBC, which broadcast the BAFTAs, later issued an apology for the ‘strong and offensive language’ in a statement provided to Tyla.
Alan Cumming issued an apology during the BAFTAs (Stuart Wilson/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA)
“Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards 2026,” a BBC spokesperson said. “This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and was not intentional. We apologise for any offence caused by the language heard.”
Variety reports Davidson attended the BAFTAs with some of his cast and crew, while the floor manager is said to have issued a warning to guests prior to the show that they ‘might hear some involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony’.
The outlet also claimed the campaigner left the BAFTAs audience during the second half of the show on his own accord.
What is coprolalia (involuntary swearing)?
John Davidson suffers from coprolalia (Aurore Marechal/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA)
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?
John Davidson’s life inspired the movie I Swear (Dave Benett/WireImage)
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?”
