Bafta outrage as Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson to watch Scotland Awards separately after N-word saga

The arrangement was made by Mr Davidson and Bafta, with the Tourette’s campaigner believed to have put forward during consultations with the film board, Tourette Scotland and Tourettes Action.

In a letter to members on Thursday, Bafta chair Sara Putt and chief executive Jane Millichip confirmed the organisation had collaborated with “safeguarding and inclusion experts” to facilitate Mr Davidson’s participation at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central “in the safest way possible for all.”

The decision was made after Mr Davidson’s involuntary tics caused a major crisis at February’s Bafta Film Awards in London.

At the February ceremony, Mr Davidson was in attendance as the executive producer of I Swear, the biopic inspired by his life.

During the evening, he involuntarily shouted the N-word while actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage presenting the first award. Host Alan Cumming had warned attendees beforehand that disruptions might occur owing to Mr Davidson’s condition.

Davidson, who experiences coprolalia – a Tourette syndrome symptom causing involuntary utterances of socially inappropriate language – voluntarily left the auditorium after realising the presenters had heard his tic from the stage.

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The controversy deepened when it became apparent that the slur had been included in the BBC One broadcast, despite the programme airing on a two-hour delay.

The corporation was subsequently found to have breached its editorial standards. BBC producers monitoring the ceremony from a truck reportedly did not hear the offensive language, and the broadcaster apologised.

Bafta’s independent review, commissioned in the wake of the February ceremony, uncovered “structural weaknesses” in the organisation’s planning, escalation procedures and crisis coordination, though it found no evidence of institutional racism or malicious intent.

The academy has since overhauled its safeguarding and live-event operations, streamlining escalation routes and bolstering briefings for presenters and staff involved in its ceremonies.

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Mr Davidson received plenty of support in the aftermath of the incident, but was also on the receiving end of backlash from public figures such as American musician Jamie Foxx and comedian Deon Cole.

The decision by Mr Davidson to remove himself from the Bafta Scotland Awards has reignited the debate surrounding awareness of illness, with many critics arguing Mr Davidson should be in the main auditorium no matter what.

Reacting to a news story on X about Bafta Scotland’s move, one critic wrote: “So, there is an award-winning film detailing his condition and now they’re locking him away from everyone else so they aren’t offended by it? How very progressive.”

“Segregating the disabled man in case he accidentally offends some stupid millionaires. So progressive,” a second echoed, while a third hit out: “It’s appalling he has to be separated because people are bl**dy idiots. The irony of celebrating the film while John has to be segregated.”

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Another concurred: “This is awful. I don’t actually care if John chose to do this because he doesn’t want any backlash again or if he was ‘asked’ to do this. It’s disgusting to separate him because adults are too thin-skinned, or stupid, or love to use anything to cry discrimination. This is scandalous.”

“Education and awareness work a lot better than segregation. John Davidson should be treated with respect,” a fifth fumed, while a sixth added: “That’s the spirit! Segregate people with illnesses because people lack the brain capacity to understand nuance!”

Despite the overwhelming sentiment, Bafta has acknowledged that involuntary tics referencing race, sexuality, religion or other protected characteristics could still cause “distress and harm to others,” adding: “It is Bafta’s responsibility to plan for and mitigate any such impact on our guests.”

The academy had previously issued an “unreserved apology” and accepted “full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation.”

I Swear leads the Bafta Scotland field with seven nominations, including all three slots in the best film actor category: Peter Mullan, Robert Aramayo and Scott Ellis Watson. There is also a best film actress nod for Shirley Henderson.

The film also earned nominations for best feature film, best director and best writer for Kirk Jones, with Mr Mullan additionally shortlisted for the Audience Award. Broadcaster Edith Bowman will host the ceremony.

Mr Davidson, diagnosed with Tourette syndrome at the age of 12 and first brought to public attention by the 1989 documentary John’s Not Mad, subsequently reached out to Mr Jordan and Mr Lindo to apologise personally.

“I want people to know and understand that my tics have absolutely nothing to do with what I think, feel or believe,” he said at the time. “It’s an involuntary neurological misfire. My tics are not an intention, not a choice and not a reflection of my values.”