Scottish Tourette’s syndrome activist John Davidson is further addressing his 2026 BAFTAs controversy.
“When socially unacceptable words come out, the guilt and shame on the part of the person with the condition is often unbearable and causes enormous distress,” Davidson, 54, said in an interview with Variety published on Tuesday, February 24. “I can’t begin to explain how upset and distraught I have been as the impact from Sunday sinks in.”
Davidson has been making headlines since Sunday, February 22, after he yelled the N-word while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage to present.
“The only time I became aware that my tic had reached the stage was when Delroy and Michael B. Jordan appeared to look up from their role as presenters, and soon after that I decided to leave the auditorium,” Davidson explained. His team confirmed to Variety that Davidson had reached out and apologized to both Jordan and Lindo, along with production designer Hannah Beachler.
Tourette’s Activist Addresses Yelling N-Word During 2026 BAFTA Awards
“The real challenge isn’t the tics themselves, but the misconceptions surrounding them,” Davidson added. “Understanding the full range of Tourette’s helps reduce stigma and supports everyone living with the condition.”
Davidson also clarified that he yelled “perhaps 10 different offensive words” during the awards ceremony.
“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,” he explained.
Davidson explained that the “more nervous” he got during the ceremony, the more his tics presented.
“As always, I felt a wave of shame and embarrassment hit me all at once. You want the floor to swallow you up. I wanted to disappear. I wanted to hide — just get away from all the eyes,” he added. “I was hoping people would understand.”
Davidson received a Tourette’s syndrome diagnosis at age 12. His experience with the neurological disorder inspired the movie I Swear, which was nominated for several awards at Sunday’s BAFTAs.
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After Davidson was heard yelling several offensive words during Sunday’s BAFTAs, host Alan Cumming took the stage with a statement.
“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,” Cumming told the crowd. “Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone.”
In a second statement during Sunday’s broadcast, Cumming added: “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.”
Davidson told Variety on Tuesday that he was “trying to calm myself down” before watching the awards show from a separate location.
“I made the decision to leave to not cause any more upset,” Davidson said. “BAFTA found a private room with a monitor where I watched the rest of the awards.”
He added, “The awards were, in all honesty, just a heightened version of my everyday life and are the reason why, for many periods in my life, I have been fearful of leaving the house — because I am so anxious and nervous about what I might tic and what people’s reaction might be.”
