BBC apologizes after involuntary outburst by guest with Tourette’s at Bafta Awards

During the 2026 Bafta Film Awards, a guest with Tourette’s syndrome, John Davidson, shouted a racial slur while actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage presenting an award. The BBC issued an apology, explaining that the outburst was an involuntary tic associated with Tourette’s and was not intentional. The incident was broadcast live on BBC One and remained briefly on BBC iPlayer before being removed. Reactions from public figures were mixed; Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized the BBC for not editing the moment, while others, including Jamie Foxx and Wendell Pierce, emphasized the offense caused to the actors. Tourette’s specialists explained that such involuntary tics, including coprolalia, affect a minority of people with the condition and do not reflect personal beliefs or intentions. Davidson, whose life story inspired the film I Swear, has lived with Tourette’s since childhood and was recognized with an MBE in 2019 for raising awareness of the condition. The film and the incident have sparked conversations about public understanding of Tourette’s and the challenges faced by those living with it.