Trending Now - Tourette's Charity Responds to Backlash From Baftas Incident

WHO:

John Davidson: Activist with severe Tourette syndrome, inspiration for the BAFTA-nominated film "I Swear."

Emma McNally: CEO of Tourettes Action, a charity supporting individuals with Tourette syndrome.

Alan Cumming: Host of the BAFTAs.

Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo: Black actors present during the BAFTAs incident.

BBC: British Broadcasting Corporation, responsible for airing the BAFTAs.

Warner Bros: Studio associated with the film "Sinners."

StudioCanal: Production company for "I Swear."

WHAT:

A racial slur was shouted by John Davidson during the BAFTAs, specifically the N-word.

Davidson also shouted "paedo" and "shut the fuck up" during the ceremony.

The BBC issued an apology for failing to edit out the racial slur from the BAFTAs broadcast.

Tourettes Action condemned a sketch on NBC’s "Saturday Night Live" that mocked the incident.

Alan Cumming criticized the BBC for broadcasting slurs and not censoring free speech.

The BBC's chief content officer took "full responsibility" for the failure to edit the slur.

WHERE:

BAFTAs: British Academy Film Awards, location not specified in the articles.

NBC: Network that aired "Saturday Night Live."

WHEN:

The BAFTAs incident occurred on February 19, 2026.

The BBC issued an apology the week of February 26, 2026.

Alan Cumming's Instagram post was made on February 26, 2026.

The original version of the BAFTAs broadcast was online for about 20 hours before being edited.

WHY:

The incident at the BAFTAs was attributed to Davidson's involuntary tics associated with Tourette syndrome.

The BBC failed to edit out the racial slur despite assurances to do so.

HOW:

Davidson's tics led to the shouting of slurs during the live broadcast.

The BBC's editing process failed to remove the slur from the live telecast, despite prior commitments to do so.

During the BAFTAs on February 19, John Davidson, an activist with severe Tourette syndrome, shouted a racial slur along with other inappropriate remarks, leading to significant backlash. The BBC later apologized for not editing out the slur from the broadcast, with their chief content officer taking full responsibility for the oversight. In response to the incident, Tourettes Action condemned a sketch on "Saturday Night Live" that mocked Davidson, while Alan Cumming criticized the BBC for airing the slurs without censorship.