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The 2026 BAFTA Awards took place in London on Sunday evening.
And there’s an embarrassing moment that makes more headlines than any of the winners or acceptance speeches.
Tourette’s activist John Davidson was present at the event and shouted racial slurs Sinners Presenting the visual effects award were stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo.
Davidson’s life was the basis for the British film 2025 I swear.
His tics are involuntary, and he was not asked to leave the party despite numerous interruptions.
At one point, host Alan Cummings took the stage to explain to the audience what had happened.
“You may have noticed some strong language in the background. This may be part of how Tourette syndrome manifests in some people as the film explores that experience,” Cumming told the audience. diverse.
“Thank you for your understanding and help creating a respectful space for everyone.”
Cumming later addressed the incident in more detail, noting that “Tourette syndrome is a disability and the tics you heard tonight are involuntary, which means a person with Tourette syndrome has no control over their language.”
“We apologize if you felt offended tonight.”
On X (formerly Twitter), SinnersProduction designer Hannah Beachler criticized Cummings’ apology.
“I understand and know deeply why this situation is impossible. I know we must handle this with grace and keep moving forward,” she wrote (via Radar Online).
“But what made the situation worse was the ‘if you are offended’ apology at the end of the show.”
In addition to the incident during Lindo and Jordan’s show, Davidson also shouted at Bafta boss Sarah Bott to “shut up” during her speech at the start of the show.
He shouted “fuck you” at my boss PongWhen they accepted the award for Best Children’s & Family Film.
For the millions of people with Tourette’s worldwide, Davidson’s tics are all too familiar.
He first gained fame as the subject of a 1989 documentary John is not crazyHe has been raising awareness of his condition ever since.
Davidson would clearly have preferred not to be the subject of so many headlines the morning after the BAFTA Awards.
But hopefully he can find some solace in the fact that the whole world is having a conversation about Tourette Syndrome and the challenges it faces.
