John Davidson has explained that the outburst was an involuntary symptom of his neurological condition, not a reflection of his beliefs or intentions.
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Days after a shocking racial slur disrupted the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards, John Davidson has spoken candidly about what happened, offering emotional insight into his Tourette’s syndrome and the distress he experienced in the aftermath.
The incident unfolded early in the ceremony as actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo took to the stage. As they announced a winner, a voice from the audience shouted the n-word.
A moment that quickly overshadowed what should have been a celebratory night and sparked global backlash.
Now, in an interview with Variety, Davidson has explained that the outburst was an involuntary symptom of his neurological condition, not a reflection of his beliefs or intentions.
“I want people to know and understand that my tics have absolutely nothing to do with what I think, feel or believe,” Davidson told Variety. “It’s an involuntary neurological misfire. My tics are not an intention, not a choice and not a reflection of my values.”
Tourette’s syndrome is a neurological condition that causes involuntary movements and vocalisations known as tics.
These can range from small sounds or movements to sudden words or phrases.
In some cases, people experience coprolalia; the involuntary utterance of socially inappropriate or offensive words.
Davidson said his tics intensified as his anxiety grew during the ceremony.
“Initially, my tics were noises and movements, but the more nervous I got, the more my tics ramped up,” he told Variety.
“When my coprolalia tics came out, my stomach just dropped. As always, I felt a wave of shame and embarrassment hit me all at once. You want the floor to swallow you up. I wanted to disappear.”
He emphasised that the words were not connected to his thoughts or character.
“Tourette’s can make my body or voice do things I don’t mean, and sometimes those tics land on the worst possible words,” he said.
“I want to be really clear that the intent behind them is zero. What you’re hearing is a symptom, not my character, not my thought, not my belief.”
Davidson also explained that his tics are often triggered by external stimuli, a phenomenon known as echolalia, meaning sounds or words heard around him can unintentionally influence his vocal tics.
One of the most significant points Davidson raised was the presence of a microphone near his seat.
“As I reflect on the auditorium, I remember there was a microphone just in front of me, and with hindsight I have to question whether this was wise, so close to where I was seated, knowing I would tic,” he told Variety.
He added that he had expected broadcast safeguards to prevent any involuntary outbursts from being aired.
“StudioCanal were working closely with BAFTA, and BAFTA had made us all aware that any swearing would be edited out of the broadcast,” he said.
“I have made four documentaries with the BBC in the past, and feel that they should have been aware of what to expect from Tourette’s and worked harder to prevent anything that I said… from being included in the broadcast.”
Davidson said he only realised his tic had been heard on stage when he noticed the presenters reacting.
“The only time I became aware that my tic had reached the stage was when Delroy and Michael B. Jordan appeared to look up from their role as presenters, and soon after that I decided to leave the auditorium.”
The controversy has since shifted beyond the moment itself, focusing heavily on why the slur was not removed from the delayed BBC broadcast.
BBC News reported that producers editing the ceremony from a TV truck did not hear the slur at the time. However, that explanation has drawn criticism from media figures.
Former Channel 4 head of news and current affairs Dorothy Byrne said additional safeguards should have been in place, suggesting Davidson should have had dedicated support to monitor and communicate any incidents in real time.
Former BBC News executive Sir Craig Oliver was even more direct, describing the explanation as inadequate and warning that broadcasters must be better prepared for sensitive live events.
The incident has raised broader questions about broadcast responsibility, production planning and duty of care when working with guests who have known neurological conditions.
BAFTA has since issued a formal apology, acknowledging the difficult situation and pledging to learn from the experience.
“We take the duty of care to all our guests very seriously and start from a position of inclusion,” BAFTA said in a statement.
The organisation confirmed that audiences had been warned that Davidson’s Tourette’s could result in involuntary sounds or language.
“We took measures to make those in attendance aware of the tics, announcing to the audience before the ceremony began, and throughout, that John was in the room and that they may hear strong language, involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony.”
BAFTA added: “We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation, and we apologise to all. We will learn from this, and keep inclusion at the core of all we do.”
Davidson has also expressed concern about how the incident has been portrayed, noting that multiple involuntary tics occurred throughout the evening, not just one.
“I would appreciate reports of the event explaining that I ticked perhaps 10 different offensive words on the night of the awards,” he told Variety.
“The N-word was one of these… but most articles are giving the impression I shouted one single slur on Sunday.”
For Davidson, the moment has been deeply personal and painful, but he hopes greater awareness will lead to a better understanding of Tourette’s syndrome and the realities of living with involuntary tics.
“My mind was saying: These people have seen the film. They will know I can’t help this. They will know it’s not me,” he said. “Please don’t judge me. Please understand this isn’t who I am.”