A debate has been sparked among BAFTA Film Awards attendees and online after a Tourette’s campaigner, John Davidson, was heard cursing throughout the show.
Davidson is the inspiration behind the BAFTA-nominated I Swear. Robert Aramayo, who depicted the Scotsman in Kirk Jones’ widely acclaimed film, nabbed the BAFTA for best actor on Sunday night —over Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothee Chalamet, Ethan Hawke and Michael B. Jordan.
The film follows a man’s struggle growing up with Tourette’s syndrome, a condition characterized by sudden, involuntary and repetitive movements or sounds. These are known as tics, and they often manifest as outbursts such as loud swearing, which occurred numerous times over the first 20 minutes of the BAFTA ceremony as Davidson shouted, “Boring!” while guests were taken through some of the housekeeping rules before the show began, and “Bullshit!” when people were asked not to curse.
He also exclaimed, “Shut the fuck up,” while BAFTA chair Sara Putt made her introductory remarks and, later, prompted gasps when he said the n-word as Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the award for best visual effects to Avatar: Fire and Ash.
In keeping with the celebratory tone of the evening, Cumming interrupted his hosting several times across the show to remind viewers: “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,” he said, referencing I Swear. “Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone.”
After Davidson left the ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall around 25 minutes into the proceedings —which The Hollywood Reporter understands was of his own accord, and not the result of being asked to by BAFTA —Cumming said again: “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.”
Guests were also notified before the awards show began that they might occasionally hear Davidson’s tics. A floor manager welcomed him, saying: “John has Tourette’s Syndrome, so please be aware you might hear some involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony.”
BAFTA referred THR to the BBC when asked for a statement about the incident. The broadcaster, airing the show on a two-hour delay across the U.K., did not immediately respond, though questions have been raised behind the scenes over the decision to not edit out Davidson’s cursing.
The incident has prompted discussion among the film community in attendance at the BAFTA Film Awards, with many Brits maintaining that Tourette’s is a deeply misunderstood condition. Others, including those from across the pond, were seemingly less tolerant of Davidson’s outbursts. Some stressed on the night that his language could have been emotionally triggering for presenters.
Sinners’ production designer, Hannah Beachler, took to social media after the show. “I keep trying to write about what happened at the BAFTAs, and I can’t find the words,” she wrote on X. “The situation is almost impossible, but it happened 3 times that night, and one of the three times was directed at myself on the way to dinner after the show,” she added about Davidson’s tics. “I understand and deeply know why this is an impossible situation. I know we must handle this with grace and continue to push through. But what made the situation worse was the throw away apology of ‘if you were offended.’”
Aramayo, who also won the BAFTA Rising Star Award on Sunday, told the crowd while accepting the prize: “John Davidson is the most remarkable man I ever met. He’s so forthcoming with education and he believes there should be still so much more we need to learn about Tourette’s.”
“For people living with Tourette’s, it’s us around them who help them define what their experience is,” Aramayo said. “So, to quote the film, they need support and understanding.”
The discussion moved online, where some users commented that Tourette’s is “debilitating” and “really, really awful.”