Well. That was uncomfortable.
During the BAFTA Film Awards, host Alan Cumming paused the ceremony to address repeated outbursts from John Davidson, a Tourette’s campaigner and the inspiration behind the nominated film I Swear. Among the shouts heard in the room were “shut the f— up,” “f— you,” and — most jarringly — the n-word while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage presenting.
Cumming told the audience:
“You may have noticed some strong language in the background there, this can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people as the film explores that experience.”
Later, he added:
“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.” – Variety.
And here’s where things get complicated.
Tourette’s syndrome can involve involuntary vocal tics, including coprolalia — the sudden utterance of socially inappropriate or profane words. It’s a real and documented disorder. It’s not something the individual can control. Davidson was an invited guest, introduced to the audience beforehand, and later left of his own accord, according to Variety.
Accommodation matters. Disability awareness matters.
But so does impact.
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Because while the explanation centered on understanding Tourette’s, the people standing on that stage when the slur was shouted were two Black men. And whether involuntary or not, that word carries centuries of violence and humiliation.
It’s fair to ask why the most explosive outburst happened when Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting. Tourette’s may explain involuntary language, but it doesn’t magically erase the weight of that word. As some viewers bluntly put it: a medical condition doesn’t create racism out of thin air — that word comes from somewhere.
No one is suggesting Davidson chose his tics. Tourette’s does not equal intent. But racism isn’t erased by context either. Even involuntary language exists within a racial hierarchy that gives certain words devastating power.
Cumming thanked the audience for their “understanding” and for helping create a “respectful space.” Respectful for whom?
The broadcast will edit what it edits. The room may move on. But the moment already happened.
Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo held themselves with visible composure and professionalism. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t painful. Watching them stand there after hearing that word echo through the theatre was difficult.
Accommodation and accountability don’t have to cancel each other out. We can hold compassion for disability and still acknowledge that Black people should not have to endure racial slurs — intentional or not — as part of someone else’s inclusion.
That tension is the real story here.
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The show was aired with a two-hour delay.
The BBC chose to edit out Akinola Davies Jr’s “Free Palestine” remark.
I guess they had their reasons to leave the N-word in?
Alan Cummings never said anything specifically to Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo.
And no apology to them from John Davidson or a representative for him.
The ball is in the BAFTA leadership’s court. IIRC they have someone on their board who is bored by racism.
And OFCOM should deal with the BBC.
This guy’s neurological processing was racist, which suggest his brain was wired in early childhood conditioning, to associate black people with the “N” racist slur.
Excusing/accommodation of this anti-social, racist behaviour, does a disservice to disability awareness, neurodiversity and inclusion.
I totally agree that the actors should receive their own apology and follow up and can’t understand why the profane language was not edited out of the broadcast. It must have been extremely difficult to hear and is very upsetting for all parties. However, there is a fundamental misunderstanding of Tourette’s syndrome here that must be corrected.
There presence of a tic involving racist language does NOT mean that the person with Tourette’s has ‘racist neurological processing’. Similar to intrusive thoughts or a bad dream, the thought process does not follow from the character of the person who experiences them but from the ‘schemas’ that exist in the brain.
If someone has ever even heard of racist language, even in the context of that it is wrong, then that language is unconsciously filed away in the brain and linked with other brain files. This brain map is the schema and its creation is involuntary. Everyone has them, it is a fundamental function of the brain. For most people, the function here would be to file away the language to ensure they never use it and to know that anyone who voluntarily uses it is racist.
Unfortunately for someone with Tourette’s, any part of that schema, whether or not they agree with it or would have consciously thought it, could become the topic of a tic. The pressure NOT to say something awful can therefore make it even more likely that you will for someone with Tourette’s, similar to how if you tried NOT to think of something, you inevitably think about it by the simple action of trying not to.
I hope that the absolutely warranted anger can be directed towards the organisers and broadcasters for not taking further steps to protect all parties rather than people with Tourette’s.
What I would like to know is did he shout out and swear when other people where on stage or just when the POC were on stage?????? I bet if it was a person of colour with Tourette syndrome shouting out derogatory words to a white person on that stage they wouldn’t afford him such grace.
Most likely the default position would apply had it been a POC, law enforcement would be called to remove the individual on the grounds of terrorism or public order violation, followed by subsequent death in custody.