John Davidson Intends To 'Apologise Directly' To Sinners Actors After N-Word Tic
Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson has given his first full interview since this year’s Baftas.
On Sunday night, John attended the awards show with the cast and crew of I Swear, the award-winning drama inspired by his life story.
During the BBC’s coverage of the Baftas, he was heard experiencing an involuntary tic while Sinners stars Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan presented an award from the stage, resulting in him shouting the N-word.
On Tuesday evening, Variety said that John’s team had confirmed to them that he has reached out to Sinners’ production company to “directly apologise” to the actors, as well as production designer Hannah Beachler, who shared after the event that he had used the same slur while experiencing an involuntary tic in her presence.
In his accompanying interview, John said: “I want people to know and understand that my tics have absolutely nothing to do with what I think, feel or believe. It’s an involuntary neurological misfire.
“My tics are not an intention, not a choice and not a reflection of my values.”
“Tourette’s can make my body or voice do things I don’t mean, and sometimes those tics land on the worst possible words,” he continued.
“I want to be really clear that the intent behind them is zero. What you’re hearing is a symptom – not my character, not my thought, not my belief.”
He then added: “I would appreciate reports of the event explaining that I ticked perhaps 10 different offensive words on the night of the awards.
“The N-word was one of these, and I completely understand its significance in history and in the modern world, but most articles are giving the impression I shouted one single slur on Sunday.”
He pointed out that among his other tics on the night were a shout of “boring” during a speech from Bafta’s chairperson, and “homophobic tics”, including shouting “paedophile”, when host Alan Cumming made a joke about Paddington Bear.
Earlier this week, John issued a statement, saying: “I am, and always have been, deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning.
“I was in attendance to celebrate the film of my life, I Swear, which, more than any film or TV documentary, explains the origins, condition, traits and manifestations of Tourette Syndrome. 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.”
He added: “I chose to leave the auditorium early into the ceremony as I was aware of the distress my tics were causing.”
Meanwhile, after Oscar nominee Delroy Lindo expressed his disappointment at the way Bafta handled the tic incident, the organisation issued a public apology to the Sinners actor and his co-star Michael B Jordan, accepting “full responsibility”.
A Bafta rep told HuffPost UK on Monday: “At the Bafta Film Awards last night our guests heard very offensive language that carries incomparable trauma and pain for so many. We want to acknowledge the harm this has caused, address what happened and apologise to all.
“One of our guests, John Davidson MBE, has Tourette Syndrome and has devoted his life to educating and campaigning for better understanding of this condition. Tourette Syndrome causes involuntary verbal tics, that the individual has no control over.
“Such tics are in no way a reflection of an individual’s beliefs and are not intentional. John Davidson is an executive producer of the Bafta-nominated film, I Swear, which is based on his life experience.”
“We take the duty of care to all our guests very seriously and start from a position of inclusion,” the statement continued. “We took measures to make those in attendance aware of the tics, announcing to the audience before the ceremony began, and throughout, that John was in the room and that they may hear strong language, involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony.
“Early in the ceremony a loud tic in the form of a profoundly offensive term was heard by many people in the room. Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage at the time, and we apologise unreservedly to them, and to all those impacted. We would like to thank Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism.
“During the ceremony, John chose to leave the auditorium and watch the rest of the ceremony from a screen, and we would like to thank him for his dignity and consideration of others, on what should have been a night of celebration for him.
“We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation and we apologise to all. We will learn from this, and keep inclusion at the core of all we do, maintaining our belief in film and storytelling as a critical conduit for compassion and empathy.”
After John’s initial tic, Baftas host Alan Cumming thanked the live audience for their “understanding”, and apologised later in the evening to anyone “if you are offended tonight”.