Jamie Foxx has publicly condemned the Tourette’s campaigner who used a racial slur during the Baftas ceremony on February 22nd, expressing outrage over the incident. The event unfolded as John Davidson, who lives with Tourette’s syndrome, shouted the N-word at Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan while they were on stage presenting an award.
Details of the Baftas Incident Involving John Davidson
The racial slur occurred as Lindo and Jordan presented the award for ‘Best Visual Effects’, which was won by Avatar: Fire and Ash. Davidson, whose condition includes Coprolalia—a rare symptom causing involuntary use of offensive language—also made other disruptive comments during the ceremony, shouting phrases such as shut the fuck up and boring at Bafta Chair Sarah Putt during her speech.
Response from Baftas Host and Organizers
Alan Cumming, the ceremony’s host, addressed the interruptions by explaining the nature of Tourette’s syndrome to the attendees. He reminded the audience,
“Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone.”
He further clarified,
“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.”
Davidson left the venue voluntarily, according to reports from Variety.
Jamie Foxx’s Strong Criticism of the Tourette’s Campaigner
Reacting to the episode, Jamie Foxx commented on The Neighborhood Talk’s Instagram post, directly condemning Davidson’s words. Foxx stated, Nah he meant that shit. He further added, Unacceptable, and in a message that has since been deleted, he expressed,
“Out of all the words, you could have said Tourette’s makes you say that?”
Medical Context and Official Apologies
Davidson’s condition Coprolalia, affecting only a small percentage of people with Tourette’s, refers to involuntary vocalizations of socially inappropriate words, explained the charity Tourette’s Action. Following the incident, the BBC issued an apology to viewers for any offense caused, stating,
“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.”
Recognition for the Film Inspired by Davidson’s Life
Despite the controversy, the film I Swear, which stars Robert Aramayo portraying John Davidson, enjoyed a successful night at the Baftas. Aramayo received both the ‘Rising Star’ award and ‘Best Actor’ accolade, surpassing nominees such as Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio. Additionally, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another had a strong showing, capturing six Baftas altogether.
The incident highlights the challenges surrounding understanding involuntary actions linked to medical conditions while raising questions about accountability in public settings. As the conversation around inclusivity and respect continues, the Baftas and public figures like Jamie Foxx bring attention to the complexities involved when disability intersects with public behavior.
