John Davidson made headlines following the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards after multiple reports of a person shouting racial slurs made the rounds online. Davidson, 54, is a campaigner for Tourette’s syndrome: a disorder in the nervous system that causes involuntary, repetitive movements and/or tics.
A BBC spokesperson only confirmed that an awards ceremony guest with Tourette’s had made the outbursts. Per a statement obtained by NBC News, the rep said, “Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards 2026. This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome and was not intentional. We apologise for any offence caused by the language heard.”
Learn about Davidson, his career as an activist, his tourette’s syndrome and what happened at the 2026 BAFTAs below.
BBC and BAFTA apologized after John Davidson, a Scottish campaigner for people with Tourette syndrome, shouted a racial slur during the ceremony. Robert Aramayo won best actor at the awards for playing Davidson in indie drama ‘I Swear.’ pic.twitter.com/Imf1ETLSqG
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 23, 2026
As previously noted, Davidson is an activist and campaigner for Tourette’s. The Scottish native has been a nationally recognized ambassador for decades, and a 1989 BBC TV documentary titled John’s Not Mad was produced about his own life and experience with Tourette’s.
Since Tourette’s is different for anyone living with the condition, Davidson’s includes tics, coprolalia, echolalia, and sudden body movements on top of obsessive–compulsive disorder (a.k.a OCD).
Despite the difficulties that accompany the condition, Davidson has persevered in helping others who are living with Tourette’s. He’s visited schools and hosted workshops to educate the public, and he organized the annual camp for adolescents in Galashiels.
