Jamie Foxx and Wendell Pierce criticise BAFTAs N-word outburst as jamie foxx comments

jamie foxx reacted to the BAFTAs incident in which Tourette syndrome activist John Davidson shouted a racial slur and other curses during the ceremony. The episode has prompted public apologies and renewed debate about how involuntary tics are understood and handled at live events.

Davidson's outburst and role

John Davidson, the executive producer and inspiration for the Tourette’s-focused winner I Swear, was heard several times shouting during the ceremony, calling out a series of curses and insults and using the N-word while Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan were on stage presenting the evening’s first prize. Davidson attended the BAFTAs as I Swear was up for a number of awards. He later said he was "deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning" and added: "I have spent my life trying to support and empower the Tourette’s community and to teach empathy, kindness and understanding from others and I will continue to do so. I chose to leave the auditorium early into the ceremony as I was aware of the distress my tics were causing. "

Immediate broadcaster response

The moment blew up after the kept it in the tape-delayed broadcast two hours later and even for a time on a streaming replay. It has since been edited out of the streaming replay; the apologized for "strong and offensive language. " A spokesperson apologised for Davidson’s shouts, saying: "Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the Bafta film awards 2026. This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and was not intentional. We apologise for any offence caused by the language heard. " Separately, producers said they "didn’t hear" the N-word slur as they were "working in a truck. "

Reaction from Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx commented beneath a post about the incident on social media, saying, "Unacceptable" and "Nah he meant that shit. " The remark from jamie foxx formed part of a wider backlash from public figures and commentators.

Other public reactions

Journalist Jemele Hill said on social media: "Black people are just supposed to be ok with being disrespected and dehumanised so that other people don’t feel bad. " Actor Wendell Pierce said: "It’s infuriating that the first reaction wasn’t complete and full throatted [sic] apologies to Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan. The insult to them takes priority. It doesn’t matter the reasoning for the racist slur. " Baftas host Alan Cumming made two announcements during the ceremony explaining the situation, saying: "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 apologise if you are offended tonight. "

Industry criticism of apology

Sinners’ production designer Hannah Beachler said on social media that she had also had a racial slur directed at her, and criticised what she called the "throwaway" apology. She wrote: "I know we must handle this with grace and continue to push through. But what made the situation worse was the throwaway apology of ‘if you were offended’ at the end of the show. "

Advocates urge understanding

Jess Thom, a U. K. -based advocate who has Tourette Syndrome, said she felt "dread" when she heard about John Davidson’s "ticcing" at the BAFTAs. Thom, 45, speaking by Zoom from her home Monday evening, said: "There are a lot of myths and oversimplifications about Tourette Syndrome, and a global frenzy is not the best place to have a conversation about them. " She added: "It's all happening in a climate with increased hostility to disabled people, with threats to Medicaid and the ADA. " Thom explained that "ticcing" is the term for when people with Tourette Syndrome involuntarily say or do something that can have the effect of making others uncomfortable. She warned against assumptions that such words reflect beliefs, saying: "People don’t understand that it’s contextual, and that part of the ticcing is saying that exact damaging thing. " Thom founded the advocacy group Tourettes Hero, which seeks to help people understand the background and also fights for disability benefits on behalf of people with TS.

The U. K. TS charity Tourette’s Action issued a statement expressing disappointment with how the story was playing out and said: "[I]t is vital that the public understands a fundamental truth about Tourette syndrome: tics are involuntary. They are not a reflection of a person’s beliefs, intentions, or character. " The organisation added that people with Tourette’s can say words or phrases they do not mean, do not endorse and feel great distress about afterwards, that these symptoms are neurological, not intentional, and that they are something John, like many others with Tourette’s, lives with every single day. The context of the backlash was described as "extremely saddening, particularly given how hard John works to" (text in the available material is incomplete on that sentence).

Medical context in coverage noted that TS is a motor control disorder characterised by muscular and vocal tics, with some 10-20% of people with the condition affected by loud, involuntary swearing, known as coprolalia.

As the conversation continues, the sequence of events remains: Davidson's involuntary outburst at the BAFTAs, public and celebrity reactions including jamie foxx and Wendell Pierce, host announcements, broadcaster apologies and edits to the replay, and calls from advocates to deepen public understanding of Tourette syndrome.

Closing: The incident has prompted apologies, criticism and renewed debate about involuntary tics and how live events should respond when such episodes occur.