The British biographical dramedy I Swear was recognized at the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards in the Best Actor in a Leading Role category, but the movie is making headlines for another reason in the United States. Cinema fans noticed that, during the awards ceremony, the film’s real-life subject, John Davidson, made several involuntary outbursts due to his Tourette’s syndrome. One of the outbursts happened to be a racial slur.
Learn more about I Swear and how you can watch the movie if you live in the states.
I Swear introduces viewers to John as an adolescent when Tourette’s syndrome was hardly identified. With plans to become a professional football player, John starts to experience uncontrollable tics. The movie follows him throughout his life as he works to bring more awareness to Tourette’s.
John is played by actor Robert Aramayo in the film.
John is a Tourette’s campaigner from Scotland, whose life story has inspired multiple on-screen projects, including I Swear. He has been a nationally recognized ambassador since the 1980s for being an outspoken advocate for those living with the nervous system condition, which causes involuntary tics and movements.
Since Tourette’s affects everyone in different ways, John’s condition includes tics, coprolalia, echolalia, and sudden body movements on top of obsessive-compulsive disorder (a.k.a OCD).
