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Tourette Syndrome at the Bafta Awards

B

I just read this:

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/feb/23/backlash-bafta-n-word-controversy-jamie-foxx-wendell-pierce-tourette-activist-john-davidson?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-gb

I can't decide what I think about the responses.

If a person usually uses the 'N' word as a tic, then maybe them not being in the audience would have been best at it's a very unpleasant and offensive word.

But must they have been there with regard to the awards anyway, so there wasn't really a choice to make for the organisers?  Should they be excluded?

There is obviously no intention for offence and the tic is unable to be controlled.

What do you think?

Parents

  • He was there because of a film about tourettes that was made about him to raise awareness of tourettes so absolutely he should have been there. People with tourettes should not be hidden away or excluded because of a challenging condition they cannot help.

    Absolutely it is difficult for someone with a protected characteristic like race to hear a slur like that but it cannot be helped by that individual and it's so important that that is understood. People with tourettes can be separated from any person who might ever be offended by one of their ticks.

    The part that could have been handled better was the apology. One, there should have been a statement directed to the presenters rather than just the audience but two, it should have been a statement of explanation and education, not just a brushed over sorry if anyone was offended. 

Reply

  • He was there because of a film about tourettes that was made about him to raise awareness of tourettes so absolutely he should have been there. People with tourettes should not be hidden away or excluded because of a challenging condition they cannot help.

    Absolutely it is difficult for someone with a protected characteristic like race to hear a slur like that but it cannot be helped by that individual and it's so important that that is understood. People with tourettes can be separated from any person who might ever be offended by one of their ticks.

    The part that could have been handled better was the apology. One, there should have been a statement directed to the presenters rather than just the audience but two, it should have been a statement of explanation and education, not just a brushed over sorry if anyone was offended. 

Children
  • in reply to Expecto_Patronum

    Yes - I agree. The guy with Tourette’s must be feeling mortified by this situation. The BBC could have edited out the sound of the racial slur before transmission to reduce offence to the viewers of the programme. Earlier in the transmission when I was watching I heard a shout and realised it was likely someone with Tourette’s connected to the film ‘I swear’ - it’s a common aspect of Tourette’s to shout offensive words - and presumably the presence of this film must have meant people in the auditorium must have realised it was someone with Tourette’s that shouted. We need to be understanding - this is not intentional and not in the persons control. It’s the BBC who could have reduced the offence. They edited out an award winner saying ‘Free Palestine’ - so how come they didn’t edit this offensive word out?!