Alan Cumming briefly paused Sunday’s BAFTA Film Awards on two separate occasions to address the expletives and racial slur that Tourette’s syndrome advocate John Davidson yelled during the telecast, according to reports.
Davidson is the subject of the BAFTA-nominated biopic “I Swear” and was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome at the age of 25. His symptoms include tics and uncontrollable outbursts, which often involve cursing and using expletive language.
“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,” Cumming said, according to Variety and clips shared on social media of the awards show ceremony.
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Sitting in the Royal Festival Hall audience, Davidson’s comments were picked up by the microphones in the room and audible on the BBC television broadcast, which was aired on a two-hour delay. The moment was not edited out and remained on the BBC’s streaming service through Monday morning.
What did John Davidson say at the BAFTAs?
According to Variety and Deadline, Davidson’s outbursts included yelling “boring” and “shut the (expletive) up” when BAFTA chair Sara Putt gave an introductory speech, and another expletive was shouted when directors of “Boong” accepted the award for best children’s and family film.
In another instance, Davidson was heard shouting a racial slur when “Sinners” actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the award for best visual effects to “Avatar: Fire and Ash.”
“Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone,” also said Cummings when addressing the room.
USA TODAY reviewed screen-recorded clips of the ceremony that were circulating online. USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Jordan and Lindo for comment.
Delroy Lindo reacts to BAFTAs racial slur incident
Lindo told Vanity Fair at a Warner Brothers post-ceremony afterparty that he and Jordan “did what we had to do” by continuing to present, but that he also wished “someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterwards.”
Jordan has not yet issued a public statement.
Variety on Sunday reported that during the BAFTAs ceremony, Cumming made a second statement about Davidson’s outburst, saying: “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.”
BAFTAs, BBC address John Davidson outburst aimed at Michael B. Jordan, Delroy Lindo
The BBC has since identified Davidson as the guest and apologized for the move, saying that a shout was audible, but the word would have been difficult to make out.
“The BBC has apologised for not editing out a racial slur from its Bafta Film Awards coverage after a guest with Tourette’s syndrome shouted out when two black actors were on stage,” the outlet wrote. “Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the Bafta Film Awards. This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional.”
In a lengthy statement published by The Hollywood Reporter, the award show’s leadership offered an apology for “putting our guests in a very difficult situation” and explained the events of the evening.
“At the BAFTA Film Awards last night, our guests heard very offensive language that carries incomparable trauma and pain for so many. We want to acknowledge the harm this has caused, address what happened and apologise to all,” the statement began.
John Davidson left BAFTAs after racial slur was said
After the incident, “John chose to leave the auditorium and watch the rest of the ceremony from a screen, and we would like to thank him for his dignity and consideration of others, on what should have been a night of celebration for him,” BAFTA said.
Before this year’s ceremony began, Variety reports, a floor manager for the BAFTAs introduced Davidson to the audience, acknowledging his Tourette’s syndrome and to “please be aware you might hear some involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony.”
Davidson went public with his diagnosis four decades ago in 1989.
“Tourette’s is such an awful condition that most of the time I don’t want to be the center of attention,” Davidson said in an interview with BBC News last year. “I want to be able to walk down the street and not be noticed because I’m shouting or swearing.”
Davidson also spoke out in a statement shared by Variety on Monday, Feb. 23, and said he felt “mortified.”
“I appreciated the announcement to the auditorium in advance of the recording, warning everyone that my tics are involuntary and are not a reflection of my personal beliefs,” Davidson said. “I was heartened by the round of applause that followed this announcement and felt welcomed and understood in an environment that would normally be impossible for me.
“In addition to the announcement by Alan Cumming, the BBC and BAFTA, I can only add that I am, and always have been deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning,” he continued.
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alan Cumming addresses tic outburst from John Davidson during BAFTA awards
