Confused viewers could hear slurs and swearing being shouted from the audience during the ceremony
John Davidson, a Scottish campaigner living with Tourette Syndrome, was heard calling out from the audience during Sunday evening’s BAFTA awards ceremony. The 54-year-old is the subject of the award-nominated film I Swear, in which he is portrayed by Robert Aramayo, who won the Best Actor BAFTA for the role.
Aramayo, the BBC, and BAFTA presenter Alan Cumming addressed the matter after some viewers at home were confused by the outbursts and believed the show was being ‘heckled’. Cumming clarified at London’s Royal Festival Hall: “You may have heard some strong offensive language tonight, but if you’ve seen the film I Swear, it’s about the experience of a person with Tourette syndrome.
“It is a disability and the tics you have heard tonight are involuntary that means the person who has Tourette syndrome has no control over their language and we apologise if it has caused offence.”
Commonly known as just Tourette’s, it is a neurological condition that causes people to make sudden, repetitive sounds or movements, also known as tics. There is no cure for the disorder and those affected have no control over what their tic is or when it happens.
People with Tourette’s often have other conditions as well, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Symptoms usually begin around the age of six but can become more severe from the age of 10.
Tics can be triggered by a range of powerful emotions from anxiety to excitement or exhaustion. Health professionals are still unclear about the root cause of Tourette’s, although there appears to be a genetic link as you’re more likely to develop it if a parent suffers from the condition.
According to Tourettes Action, just around 10% to 30% of people with Tourette’s suffer from a symptom known as coprolalia. This is when tics result in swear words or socially unacceptable language, which Davidson experienced on Sunday night.
Emma McNally, CEO of Tourettes Action, urged viewers to learn more about the condition as the campaigner faces growing backlash for the comments that audience microphones captured. She told Reach: “We are incredibly proud of John and everyone involved in I Swear following last night’s BAFTA Awards. The film has already raised so much awareness about Tourette syndrome and the daily reality faced by those living with the condition.
“However, we also want to address the negative comments that have surfaced following John’s involuntary vocal tics during the ceremony. We deeply understand that these words can cause hurt but at the same time, it is vital that the public understands a fundamental truth about Tourette syndrome: tics are involuntary. They are not a reflection of a person’s beliefs, intentions, or character.
“People with Tourette’s can say words or phrases they do not mean, do not endorse, and feel great distress about afterwards. These symptoms are neurological, not intentional, and they are something John – like many others with Tourette’s – lives with every single day.”
She revealed it’s been “extremely saddening” to see some of the criticism, with Davidson departing the ceremony midway through what ought to have been an evening of recognition.
Emma added: “This moment reflects exactly what I Swear shows so openly: the isolation, misunderstanding, and emotional weight that so often accompany this condition. People with Tourette’s manage their physical and social environments and symptoms on a constant basis.
“The price of being misunderstood is increased isolation, risk of anxiety and depression and death by suicide. We hope that those commenting will take the time to watch the film, learn about Tourette’s, and understand the experiences behind moments like these. Education is key, and compassion makes a world of difference.”
This isn’t the only time Davidson has experienced tics during major life milestones. In 2019 he received an MBE from Queen Elizabeth, a stressful event where he told security he had a bomb in his car, shouted “I’m a paedo” in the Holyrood Palace corridors and said “F*** the Queen!” in front of Her Majesty.
He said, according to the BBC: “I was absolutely mortified. But then I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was one of the Royal Archers, the Queen’s bodyguards while she’s in Holyrood, and a voice said ‘Don’t stress, she knows all about your condition’.
“That to me was huge because I’ve struggled so much with everyday life, with people misunderstanding, and if the Queen of the United Kingdom can understand and ignore the tics and the swear words then why can’t the rest of society?”
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