Tourette’s charity defends John Davidson after BAFTAs backlash
A UK Tourette’s charity has stepped forward to defend activist John Davidson amid a wave of online backlash following a controversial outburst at the 2026 BAFTA Awards. The stance comes as actor Jamie Foxx suggested Davidson did not mean what he said, with Foxx calling the moment out as unacceptable.
Davidson has spent decades advocating for greater awareness and understanding of Tourette syndrome, a cause he championed as he grew up at a time when tics and the condition were far less understood. His work helped bring attention to the daily realities faced by people living with Tourette’s, including in the biopic I Swear, released in 2025 and featuring Robert Aramayo.
Davidson attended the 2026 BAFTAs with the cast and crew of I Swear. During the ceremony, he experienced a series of tics, including an incident on stage that involved shouting the n-word while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented an award. He left the ceremony about 25 minutes later, but an uncensored version of the broadcast later appeared on BBC iPlayer, fueling a broader online backlash.
Tourettes Action, the charity behind the defense, said it was “incredibly proud” of Davidson and of everyone involved in making I Swear. In a statement, the charity highlighted that the film has raised awareness of Tourette syndrome and the daily realities faced by those living with the condition. It also addressed the backlash, stressing that tics are involuntary and not a reflection of a person’s beliefs or character.
“These symptoms are neurological, not intentional, and they are something John – like many others with Tourette’s – lives with every single day,” the charity wrote. It added that the backlash from some media circles had been “extremely saddening,” particularly given Davidson’s commitment to education and compassion. The statement underscored that tics can be distressing for the person and encouraged audiences to watch the film to understand the experiences behind moments like these.
“The film shows the isolation, misunderstanding, and emotional weight that can accompany Tourette’s,” the charity continued. “Education is key, and compassion makes a world of difference.”
Davidson himself responded to the backlash, saying in a statement that he is mortified if anyone interprets his involuntary tics as intentional or as bearing any meaning. He emphasized his lifelong goal of supporting and empowering the Tourette’s community and called on others to practice empathy and understanding. He also noted that he left the venue early because he was aware of the distress his tics were causing.
BBC apologizes for uncensored content
In the wake of the incident, the BBC apologized for not censoring the racial slur during the live BAFTA broadcast, while affirming that the utterance arose from involuntary tics linked to Tourette syndrome. The broadcaster said it would remove the uncensored version from BBC iPlayer and acknowledged the failure to censor prior to streaming.
Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan, who were on stage when the incident occurred, told Vanity Fair that they “did what we had to do” but expressed that they wished BAFTA representatives had spoken to them afterward.
How to watch I Swear in the US
Interest in I Swear has grown since its BAFTA win. In the United States, there is currently no domestic release planned, but the film is expected to arrive on Netflix UK on March 10. Viewers in the US can anticipate a Netflix US release in mid-to-late 2026. In the meantime, the 1989 documentary John’s Not Mad, which helped introduce Tourette syndrome to a broader audience, is available on YouTube.