John Davidson questions his proximity to a microphone at Bafta Film Awards
BBC World
February 25, 2026
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John Davidson, a campaigner for Tourette's syndrome awareness, found himself at the center of controversy after shouting a racial slur during the Bafta Film Awards due to his condition, which causes involuntary verbal tics. Davidson, who was seated close to a microphone, admitted that the incident was accidental and regrets the harm caused. Both the BBC, which broadcasted the awards, and Bafta have apologized for not taking sufficient steps to prevent the slur from being aired. The BBC acknowledged the offensive language arose from involuntary tics associated with Tourette syndrome but expressed regret that it wasn't edited out before broadcast.
Davidson, who has been open about his struggles with Tourette's in previous documentaries, explained that he had discussed the possibility of his tics causing unintended outbursts with Bafta and StudioCanal prior to the ceremony. He claimed these organizations assured him that any swearing would be edited out. However, Davidson argued that the BBC should have been more proactive in preventing such incidents given their past experience working with him on documentaries about Tourette's.
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about disability awareness and the challenges of managing public events where individuals with conditions like Tourette's may involuntarily utter offensive words. Bafta acknowledged the harm caused and announced a comprehensive review of its event management practices to prevent similar incidents in the future. Davidson, who left the auditorium immediately after the incident to avoid further distress, emphasized that his tics are symptoms without intent, stating, "What you're hearing is a symptom - not my character, not my thought, not my belief."
Davidson's situation highlights the complexities of balancing public visibility with the realities of living with Tourette's. While he regrets the impact of his outburst, he remains committed to raising awareness about the condition. The incident also underscores the need for event organizers to consider the unique challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and to implement measures that prevent such situations from arising in the future.
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/25/2026