How BAFTA’s N-word controversy has led to a campaign of bullying
John Davidson’s N-word outburst at the BAFTAs left many in shock, but has an ugly debate led to bullying, when there should have been understanding and compassion?
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What’s the story?
In little over a week, we've gone from shock at how and why BAFTA and the BBC allowed the N-word to be broadcast to US TV shows making comedy sketches about how hilarious Tourette’s can be.
In that time, what happened at the 2026 BAFTA Awards – where John Davidson, a lifelong campaigner for people living with Tourettes, shouted the N-word as Sinners actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented an award – has resulted in a widespread (and often ugly) debate on social media about the incident.
Davidson was in the audience as a movie about his life, I Swear, has become a critical success, with lead Robert Aramayo winning Best Actor award on the night.
Broadcast with a two-hour delay, the BBC successfully cut calls of "free Palestine" made by award-winners, but left Davidson's outburst in its coverage, and on iPlayer.
This weekend, Davidson's outburst was the subject of jokes on Saturday Night Live and during the annual NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People) Image Awards.
Jon describes the SNL sketch as both “unbelievably crass” and “horrendously unfunny” – but most crucially as “punching down” at people with a disability.
There have been suggestions that Davidson should not have been allowed to attend the BAFTAs, and it is known he was shouting, due to Tourette's tics, throughout the ceremony.
“It shows the vapid, insincerity and shallowness of Hollywood, that they will stand and cheer a film about Tourette's, but don't want to be around a bloke with Tourettes,” Jon says.
Can people ‘hold two thoughts in their head at the same time’?
In the UK, The News Agents note, there has been more sympathy for Davidson, while in America there has been an outpouring of support for US actors Jordan and Lindo.
This, Jon and Lewis say, has culminated in the BAFTAs situation – and people with tourettes, becoming the victim of jokes, some of which steer worryingly close to threats.
And both sides of the story deserve compassion here.
“There is something so depressing about the inability of so many people to hold two thoughts at once,” Jon says.
“The N-word is completely and utterly offensive and should never be used, and at the same time someone with Tourette's is not to be held responsible for a verbal tic, which is part of their disability.
“It's awful that it was caught on a microphone, and it's awful that it's become a major row, but John Davidson is not the problem.”
He says that “progressives” sharing their outrage or support for one side only have “no sense” that anyone could care about the evils of racism and the rights of disabled people simultaneously.
Has an opportunity for understanding been missed here?
Both Jon and Lewis acknowledge that they are white men sat in a podcast studio discussing a race-related issue.
But Lewis says what has happened since, and the jokes made about people with Tourettes since mark a missed opportunity for people to understand anti-racism, saying some of those calling Davidson a racist have done so without the “empathy and understanding” that is so core to understanding the pain caused by public use of the N-word.
“Davidson has had to deal with the consequences of his condition all his life, and so-called ‘progressives’ in the United States have engaged in a campaign of bullying against him.” says Lewis.
“The entire point of I Swear has been to try and educate people that he cannot help what he says and so many others can't either.”
When collecting an MBE from Queen Elizabeth II for his work campaigning in 2019 to raise awareness of Tourettes, he yelled “fuck the queen”.
“What kind of message is that to disabled people, that they shouldn't be with us, and shouldn't be allowed to be in the same room because they might make someone else feel uncomfortable?” Lewis adds.