Baftas Host Apologises After Guest With Tourette's Has N-Word Tic During Ceremony

Baftas host Alan Cumming issued an apology during Sunday night’s ceremony after a guest with Tourette’s syndrome experienced a number of tics – including shouting expletives and a racial slur – from the audience of this year’s event.

In the run-up to the 2026 Baftas, the British movie I Swear, which was inspired by the life of Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson, scored five nominations, including Outstanding British Film and acting nods for cast members Robert Aramayo and Peter Mullan.

John joined the film’s cast and crew at this year’s ceremony, with Variety reporting that the floor manager had told guests before the proceedings began that they “might hear some involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony”.

The first award of the night to be handed out was Best Special Visual Effects, presented by Sinners stars Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo.

As the two actors introduced the award, John experienced a tic that led him to shouting the N-word from the audience, a moment which made it into the BBC’s broadcast of the Baftas, airing on a delay of around two hours.

Responding at the time, first-time host Alan said: “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.

“Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone.”

Later in the evening, the Traitors US host added: “Tourette’s 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.”

According to Variety, John left the auditorium in the second half of the ceremony of his own volition.

Prior to that, he had also shouted “shut the fuck up” during an introductory speech and “fuck you” during the presentation of the Best Children’s And Family Film award.

Meanwhile, Sinners’ production designer Hannah Beachler alleged on X that the N-word tic incident was repeated numerous times on the night, including once towards her as she attended a post-show dinner.

“I understand and deeply know why this is an impossible situation,” she wrote. “I know we must handle this with grace and continue to push through. But what made the situation worse was the throw away apology of ‘if you were offended’ at the end of the show.”

A BBC spokesperson told HuffPost UK: “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.”

HuffPost UK has also contacted Bafta for comment.

The NHS website describes Tourette’s syndrome as a “condition that causes you to make sudden, repetitive sounds or movements”, known as tics.

Examples of tics are listed as whistling, sniffing or clearing your throat a lot, making animal sounds, repeating a sound, word or phrase and swearing, though it’s noted that this is only in rare cases.

“Tics can be triggered by different things including stress, excitement or tiredness,” the NHS says.

I Swear won two of the awards it was nominated for, including Best Actor for Robert Aramayo.

Robert also picked up the coveted Rising Star prize during the ceremony, the only award to be voted for by viewers.