Tristan Fewings/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA
An unfortunate situation unfolded at the BAFTA Awards across the pond on Sunday night as Tourette’s activist John Davidson blurted out a racial slur while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting. The slur could be heard by both the entire crowd and the audience at home.
John Davidson — who was diagnosed with the syndrome at 25 years old — was present at the BAFTA Awards on Sunday night as his life served as the inspiration for the BAFTA-nominated film I Swear. David’s symptoms, which include tics and uncontrollable outbursts, reportedly began when he was 12 years old.
Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson shouted the N-word at Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo while they were presenting at the BAFTA Awards
While Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting the award for Best Visual Effects to Avatar: Fire and Ash, Davidson was heard shouting the N-word from the crowd.
Editor’s Note: the below video contains offensive language, viewer discretion is advised.
Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson shouted the N-word while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage at the BAFTA Film Awards
Host Alan Cumming thanked the audience for their understanding after several outbursts throughout the event https://t.co/h4Ekla5keG pic.twitter.com/8l6JLh6hHG
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 22, 2026
“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. Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone,” host Alan Cumming said at the start of the ceremony.
“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,” he lated added.
The moment has predictably sparked an intense discourse online, with the debate centering around neurodivergence and racism, and where the line between the two exists.
“Real tough night to be a racist ableist,” one viral tweet joked.
This is a really good litmus test for what people actually think about neurodivergence. Are you supportive when it is challenging? Or just when it is easy for you?
I feel so badly for everyone involved in this. People with tourette’s say a lot of things they don’t believe in. https://t.co/lPdW8Vu5YS
— Becky Taylor-Gill (@beckytaylorgill) February 22, 2026
The true test of your advocacy for neurodivergence and mental disorders is how you react when presented with the more complex and messy ones.
— Ụlọma (@ulxma) February 23, 2026
Academy Award winning actor Jamie Foxx, for example, didn’t have any sympathy for Davidson and wrote multiple comments on social media expressing his anger over the incident.
im crying jamie mad asf 😭😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/TGOjMBZ1ib
— care bear ౨ৎ (@jump222it) February 23, 2026
Adding further layers to the controversy, however, is the fact that the broadcast edited out Outstanding Debut winner Akinola Davies Jr saying “Free Palestine” but not the N-word moment.
BBC censored Akinola Davies saying “Free Palestine” during his speech, but let the n-slur through on-air. We’re way past trolleys man.https://t.co/Hh0aF2EHr2
— Sujit Das (@sujitdasesq) February 23, 2026
The unfortunate moment overshadowed what was a history night for Sinners, as it became the most-awarded movie from a Black director in the show’s history as it secured wins for Best Supporting Actress (Wunmi Mosaku), Best Original Screenplay (Ryan Coogler), and Best Original Score (Ludwig Göransson).