BAFTA Awards 2026: John Davidson's Tourette Syndrome Outbursts Overshadow Historic Night as "I Swear" Star Robert Aramayo Stuns the Crowd

The 79th BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday, February 22, at London's Royal Festival Hall delivered one of the most remarkable and emotionally complex ceremonies in the event's history. Hosted by Alan Cumming, the night saw One Battle After Another dominate the winners list — but the moment that sent shockwaves around the world involved John Davidson, the real-life Tourette Syndrome campaigner whose story is the heartbeat of the night's biggest upset.

Who Is John Davidson? The Real Man Behind "I Swear"

Davidson, who is the inspiration for BAFTA-nominated movie I Swear, was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at the age of 25. His symptoms, which first began when he was 12, include tics and uncontrollable outbursts, often involving cursing. Davidson is a revered ambassador for Tourette's who was previously honored by Queen Elizabeth II for his advocacy work. He first went public with his condition at age 16 in the BBC documentary John's Not Mad in 1989.

I Swear features Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power star Robert Aramayo as Davidson, following him at age 25 after his appearance in that seminal BBC documentary, which first introduced Tourette's to a wider audience.

The Moment That Shocked the Room: Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo

Jordan and Lindo, the stars of Sinners, were onstage in London to present the first award of the night — for best visual effects — when the n-word was yelled at them from the audience. The actors, who are Black, appeared to pause for a beat after the slur was yelled, then continued their presentation.

Davidson also shouted "Boring!" while guests were taken through housekeeping rules before the show began, "Bullshit!" when people were asked not to curse, and "Shut the f*** up" while BAFTA chair Sara Putt made her introductory remarks. The disruptions stopped during the second half of the event after Davidson left the venue. BAFTA organizers did not ask him to depart.

Alan Cumming Addresses the Audience — Twice

The audience had been warned before the ceremony that tics or involuntary swearing could occur, and Davidson received large applause inside the hall. Host Alan Cumming stepped forward twice to address the situation directly. Cumming told the audience, which included the Prince and Princess of Wales: "Tourette Syndrome is a disability and the tics you've heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette Syndrome has no control over their language. We apologize if you were offended." The BBC, which aired the ceremony on a delay, also apologized for the "strong and offensive language."

Robert Aramayo's Stunning Double Win for "I Swear"

The biggest shock of the BAFTA ceremony came when Robert Aramayo, after picking up the EE Rising Star Award, beat out the likes of Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio for best actor — met with audible gasps from the audience. The category also included Ethan Hawke and Michael B. Jordan. Aramayo paid tribute to Davidson in his acceptance speech, calling him "the most remarkable man I ever met" and urging more understanding for those living with Tourette Syndrome.

Full 2026 BAFTA Winners Highlights

One Battle After Another won six BAFTAs in total, including Best Film, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Supporting Actor, Cinematography, and Editing. Sinners won three BAFTAs — Original Screenplay, Supporting Actress, and Original Score — making it the most-decorated film from a Black director in BAFTA history. Ryan Coogler became the first Black winner in the original screenplay category.

What Is Tourette Syndrome? The Condition at the Center of the Night

Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics. A common but widely misunderstood feature of the condition is coprolalia — the involuntary utterance of obscene or offensive words — which affects roughly 10–15% of people with Tourette's. The tics are not a reflection of a person's beliefs or intentions and cannot be consciously controlled. Before the ceremony, Davidson told reporters on the red carpet that crowded environments with heightened stimulation increase his tics, saying: "Certain things — like today, lots of people around, I'm feeling very, you know, more tics in case I lash out." His decades of public advocacy have helped millions better understand the realities of the condition — and Sunday night, in front of the Prince and Princess of Wales, that mission played out in its most raw and public form yet.