The BAFTA outburst: When inclusion and trauma collide

We are grateful to Nicole Rosseau, President of the Illinois Chapter of the Tourette Association of America, for providing information that informed this article.

Not that long ago, an incident took place at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs). John Davidson, a man who suffers from Tourette syndrome, yelled a racial slur while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award. 

The result of this was widely varied. The New York Times placed the blame on the organizers of the show, while the Guardian highlighted the thoughts and opinions of a writer who suffers from the same condition.

Why so much anger?

This story perhaps wouldn’t have been quite so large if it wasn’t for the precise language used. As all of us are aware, the word in question is perhaps the most powerful lexical signifier of dehumanization and othering that exists in our language. 

The history of this word, which arguably began with the trans-Atlantic slave trade, continues to this day as there is still incredible inequality, bias, and hate wrapped up in that word. 

People of color who have had to be on the receiving end of this abuse understand on a deep psychological level the hurt attached to it. This is so profound that the Saussurian concept of the signified and the signifier entirely breaks down, or at least blurs. 

The gut reflex against the sound of the word is perhaps an example of race-based trauma. The instinctive abhorrence of even close cognates like the country Montenegro or unrelated yet phonetically similar words shouldn’t be dismissed as a lack of education. 

It is, instead, a visceral representation of the wrong that has been, and continues to be done, to a community based on their race. This needs to be understood and respected.

Understanding Tourette syndrome 

The above context explains why the incident at the BAFTAs was so controversial and unfortunate. The cultural and psychological trauma associated with the simple sound of the word is enough to evoke extremely strong feelings. 

There is no evidence or suggestion by anyone that John Davidson harbors any prejudice against any racial groups. In fact, all reports seem to show that Davidson felt “mortified” by the incident. It doesn’t represent his personal beliefs and is completely involuntary. 

This is because Davidson has a type of Tourette syndrome that is called Coprolalia.   

Coprolalia is, “Particularly embarrassing for some individuals with coprolalia are involuntary outbursts within social contexts, such as racial or ethnic slurs in the company of the very people who would be most offended by such remarks. A minority of people with coprolalia have this particular problem. It is crucial to understand that these words or complex phrases do not necessarily reflect the thoughts, beliefs or opinions of the person with coprolalia.”

John Davidson’s work with Tourette

What has got somewhat lost in this controversy is why John Davidson was present at the BAFTA’s in the first place. John Davidson is far from a random attendee; he is a seminal figure in the UK’s history of mental health awareness. Most notably, he was the subject of the groundbreaking 1989 BBC documentary John’s Not Mad, which provided millions of viewers with their first intimate look at the reality of living with severe Tourette syndrome. At a time when neurodiversity was poorly understood and often mocked, Davidson’s vulnerability and resilience helped shift the national conversation from ridicule to empathy.

He was present at the BAFTAs as a celebrated advocate for disability representation and for his movie “I Swear”. His presence served as a testament to how far the entertainment industry has come in acknowledging the stories of those who move through the world differently.

Over the decades, Davidson has worked tirelessly with organizations like Tourettes Action, using his platform to educate the public on the neurological roots of his condition. He has spent his life turning his own "mortifying" moments into educational tools. His invitation to the ceremony was a recognition of this lifelong commitment – making it a cruel irony that a night meant to honor his contribution to public understanding became a flashpoint for the very misunderstanding he has fought to erase.

Mental health is never black and white

Reasonable commentators aren’t placing the blame on Davidson, understanding that he has a condition, and are instead blaming the BBC for having the microphone too close to Davidson and failing to act quickly to censor the word. 

This is perhaps valid for this specific context, but these tics happen every day whether the BAFTA cameras are rolling or not. As the Guardian article above says, Tourette syndrome “tests the limits of acceptance” – regardless of the sufferer’s intentions. 

This is something we need to remember with all mental health illnesses: true inclusion is not a "fair-weather" commitment. It is easy to champion neurodiversity when it looks like a quirky talent or a quiet struggle. It is significantly harder when the symptoms of a disability clash directly with our most sacred social taboos. However, if we only accept the parts of a condition that make us comfortable, we aren't practicing acceptance at all – we are practicing conditional tolerance.

True progress lies in the difficult middle ground: holding space for the genuine pain of those harmed by a slur, while simultaneously extending grace to a man whose neurological "glitch" is entirely divorced from his character. Compassion is not a zero-sum game; we must find a way to provide it to both the victim of the word and the victim of the condition.

If you are suffering from Tourette syndrome or affected in any way by the subject, please feel free to contact us at MHAI or the Illinois chapter of Tourette Association of America or (847) 526-8660.