John Davidson Outburst at BAFTAs Prompts BBC Apology and Debate Among Attendees
john davidson, the campaigner who inspired the film I Swear, shouted a racial slur during the BAFTA Film Awards as Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the award for best visual effects. The episode has drawn immediate backlash and a public response from the, and it dominated conversation among nominees and guests following the ceremony.
John Davidson’s Outburst in Royal Festival Hall
During the ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall, Davidson—who has Tourette syndrome—uttered a series of involuntary tics and expletives in the first portion of the show. Over the first 20 minutes of the broadcast he interjected multiple times, shouting phrases such as “Boring!” during housekeeping remarks, “Bullshit!” when people were asked not to curse, and “Shut the fuck up” during introductory remarks from BAFTA chair Sara Putt. The episode that drew the most attention occurred while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting best visual effects; Davidson yelled the N-word, which prompted audible gasps in the auditorium and left Jordan visibly startled.
Alan Cumming's Stage Response
Host Alan Cumming interrupted his monologue to address the audience more than once, explaining that what attendees had heard could be part of how Tourette syndrome can present for some people and asking for understanding. On stage he framed Tourette’s as a disability and emphasized that such tics are involuntary, offering an apology for any offence caused. Guests had also been briefed before the show by a floor manager, who welcomed Davidson and advised attendees to be aware they might hear involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony.
Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo
While presenting, Jordan and Lindo continued with the segment; later at the Warner Bros. after-party Lindo said he and Jordan “did what we had to do” while on stage but added that he wished someone from BAFTA had spoken to them afterward. Lindo was later seen in good spirits talking with Wunmi Mosaku, who won the BAFTA for best supporting actress. Jordan attended an additional after-party thrown by British GQ and Vogue and was listed as one of that event’s hosts, though he was there only briefly.
and Broadcast Edits
The BAFTA ceremony was aired on a tape delay, but the offensive language remained in the broadcast. A spokesperson acknowledged that some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language and said the language arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome; the spokesperson apologized that the material was not edited out prior to broadcast and said it will now be removed. The broadcaster also did not air Akinola Davies Jr. saying “free Palestine” at the end of his acceptance speech, stating that all edits were made to ensure the program was delivered to time.
Reactions From Crew, Winners and the Room
Sinners production designer Hannah Beachler wrote on X that the incident was “almost impossible” and said it happened three times that night, with one of the occurrences directed at her on the way to dinner after the show. After the incident, Davidson appeared to remove himself from the theatre; other accounts indicate he left the ceremony around 25 minutes into the proceedings of his own accord and was not asked to leave by officials. BAFTA hosted a dinner for nominees and guests after the ceremony, and attendees continued to discuss the episode there.
I Swear, Robert Aramayo and Broader Awards Moments
Davidson is the real-life inspiration for the British film I Swear, whose star Robert Aramayo won multiple honours at the ceremony. Aramayo took the BAFTA for best actor—also described as the lead-actor prize—and won the rising-star award, prevailing over contenders including Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet, with Ethan Hawke and Michael B. Jordan among the category’s nominees. Separately, Ryan Coogler won best original screenplay and used his acceptance to praise the community that supported him, saying that they made him believe he could be a writer.
The timing matters because the ceremony was both a celebration of film and a live public forum where involuntary behaviour intersected with highly charged language, creating immediate ripple effects across presenters, production staff and the broadcast. Discussion among attendees split between those emphasizing that Tourette’s is frequently misunderstood and those who felt the language could be emotionally triggering for presenters and viewers.
john davidson’s presence at the ceremony, his role as the film’s real-life subject and the decision not to excise the language before broadcast have left the industry debating how events should balance accessibility, live presentation and editorial control going forward.
