The 2026 Bafta Film Awards are complete, but not without some controversy. During the ceremony, host Alan Cumming thanked the audience for their understanding after campaigner John Davidson, who has Tourette syndrome [TS], appeared to shout strong language, including a racial slur, during the show.
John Davidson is the inspiration behind I Swear, a drama based on his experience with TS, a condition that causes a person to make sudden, repetitive sounds or movements, known as ‘tics’, without their control. It follows Davidson, played by Robert Aramayo (Behind Her Eyes, Rings of Power), as he navigates growing up with misunderstood tics in the Scottish Borders before becoming an award-winning activist – even earning an MBE in 2019 for his advocacy around TS.
During the Baftas ceremony, a number of outbursts could be heard, including during Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo’s presentation of the award for best visual effects to Avatar: Fire and Ash, when the N-word, a deeply offensive racial slur, was shouted.
Alan Cumming addressed the incident to the audience, saying, “You may have noticed some strong language in the background. This can be part of how Tourette syndrome shows up for some people as the film explores that experience,” adding, “Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone.”
Stuart Wilson/BAFTA/Getty Images
Later on in the ceremony, Cumming added, “Tourette Syndrome is a disability and the tics you’ve heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette’s Syndrome has no control over their language. We apologise if you are offended tonight.”
Prior to the ceremony kicking off, the floor manager introduced Davidson to the audience, saying (per Variety): “I’d like to welcome John Davidson MBE from one of our nominated films ‘, I Swear’. John has Tourette’s Syndrome so please be aware you might hear some involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony.”
I Swear was nominated for five BAFTAs, including Best Supporting Actor for Peter Mullan, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Leading Actor for Aramayo, which he duly won. In his acceptance speech, Aramayo, who also won the EE Rising Star Award, paid tribute to Davidson, describing him as “the most remarkable man I ever met.”
“He’s so forthcoming with education and he believes there should be still so much more we need to learn about Tourette’s,” Aramayo continued. “Especially, I just want to say for people who are living with Tourette’s it’s the buzz around them that helped define what their experience is so, to quote the film, ‘They need support and understanding.’”