Tourette’s syndrome advocate blurts out profanity, racial epithet at BAFTAs

There were some awkward moments at the British BAFTA awards Sunday when Tourette’s syndrome advocate John Davidson blurted out random profanities and a racial epithet during the ceremony, whose audience included the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Variations on the word “f—” could be heard throughout the evening in the background as awards were doled out. Most notably, the “n-word” erupted from Davidson’s lips as veteran actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the first award of the evening, which went to “Avatar: Fire and Ash” for best visual effects.

The audience had been advised before the show that tics or involuntary swearing could occur, and Davidson received hearty applause, CNN reported. Nonetheless, host Alan Cumming felt compelled to smooth things over, emphasizing the involuntary nature of the outbursts.

“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 told the audience, according to Variety. “Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone.”

The moment underscored the relevance of the BAFTA-nominated movie “I Swear,” illustrating in real life the challenges of having the neurodevelopmental disorder that is “characterized by sudden, involuntary movements and/or sounds called tics,” as the Tourette Association of America describes it. “Tics can range from mild/inconsequential to moderate and severe, and are disabling in some cases.”

Davidson was the inspiration for the film, which has grossed $8 million in the U.K. so far and is scheduled to hit U.S. theaters in April, according to CNN. An emotional Robert Aramayo won best leading actor for portraying him.

Davidson’s symptoms began when he was 12, but he was not diagnosed until he was 25.

“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,” Cumming said. “We apologize if you are offended tonight.”