Jamie Foxx: BAFTAs Apologize After John Davidson’s Tourette Outbursts Include Racial Slur

During the BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday night, Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson repeatedly shouted expletives and a racial slur inside London’s Royal Festival Hall, prompting host Alan Cumming to pause the broadcast and apologize to viewers; jamie foxx

John Davidson’s Outbursts

John Davidson, who was introduced in the hall as John Davidson MBE and identified as the subject of the film I Swear, was heard shouting a string of tics and expletives through the first portion of the ceremony. Over the first 20 minutes he was recorded shouting "Boring!" during housekeeping remarks and "Bullshit!" when the audience was asked not to curse. He also interrupted BAFTA chair Sara Putt by shouting "Shut the fuck up, " and later used the N-word while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the award for best visual effects to Avatar: Fire and Ash. Davidson additionally shouted "fuck you" when the directors of Boong accepted the BAFTA for best children’s and family film.

Alan Cumming’s Remarks

Host Alan Cumming repeatedly addressed the room, telling the audience that strong language could be part of how Tourette’s syndrome manifests for some people and asking for understanding. He said Tourette’s syndrome is a disability and that the tics heard were involuntary, and offered an apology for anyone offended. Cumming made an initial explanatory comment while the outbursts were audible and reiterated the point after Davidson left the hall.

I Swear and Robert Aramayo

The disturbances occurred while I Swear, a film directed, written and produced by Kirk Jones, was taking home multiple recognitions. Robert Aramayo, who portrays Davidson in the film, won the BAFTA for best actor over competitors Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, Ethan Hawke and Michael B. Jordan. I Swear was up for five BAFTAs, including best leading actor for Aramayo, best supporting actor for Peter Mullan, best original screenplay and casting; the film won for casting and was also in contention for outstanding British film. Aramayo also received the EE Rising Star award and, accepting recognition on stage, praised Davidson as "the most remarkable man I ever met, " noting Davidson’s commitment to education about Tourette’s.

Royal Festival Hall and Broadcast

The incident unfolded at London’s Royal Festival Hall and was audible to attendees that included the Prince and Princess of Wales. Guests had been forewarned before the ceremony when a floor manager welcomed Davidson and said: "John has Tourette’s Syndrome so please be aware you might hear some involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony. " Davidson left the room around 25 minutes into the proceedings; BAFTA and event staff treated him as an invited guest and he left of his own accord, not at the request of organizers. The ceremony was broadcast on a two-hour delay in the U. K. and the outbursts were not edited out for the televised transmission. BAFTA referred questions about the incident to the broadcaster, and the broadcaster did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Organizers did not immediately respond to separate requests for comment.

Reactions and the Wider Conversation

The moment sparked immediate debate among those at the awards and online. Some attendees stressed that Tourette’s remains widely misunderstood and noted the involuntary nature of tics; others, including guests from overseas, said the language could have been emotionally triggering for presenters. The timing matters because the outbursts occurred during prize presentations and an early window of the ceremony, shaping both on-stage remarks and the decision to reiterate explanations to the audience.

Jamie Foxx

jamie foxx