BAFTA 2026: John Davidson, Tourette Syndrome, and the Controversy That Overshadowed the Night

The 79th BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday, February 22, 2026, in London produced one of awards season's most discussed and contested moments — not from the stage, but from the audience. Scottish Tourette syndrome campaigner John Davidson, whose life story inspired the nominated film I Swear, had several involuntary verbal outbursts during the ceremony, including a racial slur shouted while Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting on stage. The fallout consumed the following 24 hours and drew formal apologies from both BAFTA and the BBC.

Who Is John Davidson?

Davidson was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome at 25, and his experiences inspired the BAFTA-nominated film I Swear, which exists in part to educate audiences about Tourette syndrome. He lives with tics that can include involuntary vocal outbursts.

Davidson told CNN before the ceremony that he was worried about the involuntary tics that mark his condition, saying that certain situations — like being around large numbers of people — tend to trigger more outbursts.

What Happened at the BAFTAs

Davidson had been welcomed by a floor manager before the awards show, and attendees were informed: "John has Tourette's Syndrome, so please be aware you might hear some involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony." A source confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter this was the moment presenters were warned about Davidson's tics, minutes before the ceremony began.

Other outbursts came early in the show, including "Bullshit!" when people were asked not to curse, and "Shut the f*** up" when BAFTA chair Sara Putt made her introductory remarks. Davidson left the room around 25 minutes into the show of his own accord, shortly after his outburst during Jordan and Lindo's presentation.

Host Alan Cumming thanked the audience for their understanding during the ceremony, saying: "You may have noticed some strong language in the background. This can be part of how Tourette's syndrome shows up for some people as the film explores that experience."

Michael B. Jordan, Delroy Lindo, and the Aftermath

Delroy Lindo spoke to Vanity Fair at a BAFTA after party, saying he and Jordan "did what we had to do" when the slur was shouted while they were presenting the award for best visual effects to Avatar: Fire and Ash. He added that he wished "someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterwards."

Sinners Oscar-nominated production designer Hannah Beachler wrote on social media: "I keep trying to write about what happened at the BAFTAs, and I can't find the words. The situation is almost impossible, but it happened 3 times that night, and one of the three times was directed at myself on the way to dinner after the show."

The BBC Broadcast Controversy

Despite a two-hour tape delay and edits to the show for length, the slur was included in both the BBC broadcast and the iPlayer streaming version. Critics and viewers quickly derided the initial round of statements as tone-deaf.

The BBC apologized, saying the language was not intentional and removing the slur from the iPlayer version of the ceremony. BAFTA pulled the show from iPlayer before issuing a revised statement.

BAFTA's Official Apology

In its formal statement, BAFTA said: "Early in the ceremony a loud tic in the form of a profoundly offensive term was heard by many people in the room. Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage at the time, and we apologise unreservedly to them, and to all those impacted. We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation and we apologise to all."

2026 BAFTA Film Awards: Key Winners

Despite the controversy, the ceremony itself delivered major results. One Battle After Another dominated the night, taking home six prizes including best film and director for Paul Thomas Anderson. Robert Aramayo won best actor for playing John Davidson in I Swear, defeating Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio. Wunmi Mosaku won best supporting actress for Sinners, and Sean Penn took the supporting actor prize for One Battle After Another.

Accepting his best actor win, Aramayo said: "I can't believe I'm up here looking at people like you," gesturing at Leonardo DiCaprio. He also addressed Ethan Hawke emotionally, crediting a talk the seasoned actor had given at Julliard as a pivotal moment in his development as a performer.