Watch: Tourette’s Campaigner John Davidson Shouts N-Word as Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo Stand on BAFTAs Stage

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Viewers watching the BAFTA Awards on Sunday night were surprised when an interruption occurred as Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting.

During the presentation of the award for best visual effects, a racial slur was shouted by someone in the audience. The person responsible was identified as John Davidson, an activist with Tourette’s syndrome who was attending the event as a guest. The shout was clearly audible throughout the venue.

Alan Cumming expressed gratitude to the audience for their patience after activist John Davidson, who has Tourette’s syndrome, repeatedly disrupted the BAFTAs. During one interruption, a racial slur was shouted while actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting.

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Jordan and Lindo finished presenting the award to “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” ignoring the recent comment and continuing with the show as planned.

Davidson’s sudden outburst happened because of his Tourette’s syndrome. He experiences strong, involuntary vocal tics, meaning he sometimes blurts out words without being able to stop himself.

Alan Cumming, the host, quickly acknowledged an instance of strong language that occurred during the event. He explained to the audience that this was related to Tourette’s syndrome, which the film featured, and is sometimes a part of the condition. He thanked everyone for being understanding and for helping to maintain a respectful environment.

Later in the show, Cumming explained that Tourette’s syndrome is a disability, and the involuntary tics—the sounds and movements people may experience—are beyond the person’s control. He also apologized to the audience if anything had been offensive.

Throughout the ceremony, Davidson was also heard making outbursts, reportedly shouting during speeches and while people accepted awards. According to Variety, he seemed to leave halfway through the night. Sources confirmed he was a guest and the organizers hadn’t asked him to leave.

The film “I Swear,” nominated for a BAFTA award, is based on the life of Davidson, who inspired it. He first gained attention in a 1989 BBC documentary called “John’s Not Mad,” which showed the challenges he faced living with a severe case of Tourette’s syndrome.

Tourette’s syndrome is a condition affecting the nervous system that causes people to make repetitive movements or sounds called tics. These tics happen suddenly and briefly, and individuals with Tourette’s typically can’t control them. Unfortunately, there isn’t a cure for this condition at this time.

The event caused an awkward pause during the awards show, but the ceremony went on without any other significant problems.

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2026-02-23 10:45