Delroy Lindo speaks out after Tourette’s campaigner shouted racial slur at him during BAFTAs
Actor Delroy Lindo has addressed the events of last night's British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) after Tourette's campaigner John Davidson could be heard shouting numerous times.
This included a racial slur while Lindo and Michael B Jordan were presenting the award for best visual effects.
Davidson, who was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome after developing tics and uncontrollable vocalisations as a teenager, was shouting because of involuntary tics brought on by the condition.
The 54-year-old was recently the inspiration behind I Swear, which follows a young Scottish man suffering from the disorder, as he eventually comes to terms with his condition and campaigns for it in order to raise awareness.
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Despite the incident, Lindo was reported to be in good spirits at the Warner Bros. afterparty following the ceremony, as Jordan attended one hosted by British GQ and Vogue.
Lindo spoke to Vanity Fair at the afterparty, admitting that he and Jordan 'did what we had to do' while presenting - but that he also wished 'someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterward'.
BAFTAs host Alan Cumming made sure to clarify Davidson's outbursts to the audience, saying: “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.”
Cumming said in a later statement: “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.”
The incident forced the BBC to release a statement after it broadcast the N-word despite a two-hour delay.
The broadcaster acknowledged the 'strong and offensive language' heard, explaining that it came from 'involuntary verbal tics' linked to Tourette's before editing the version on BBC iPlayer.
Robert Aramayo, who portrayed Davidson in I Swear, spoke to reporters after winning best actor and the rising star award, explaining that it was a 'joint responsibility'.
“It's not shouting obscenities. It's not being abusive. It's Tourette's. They are tics. If it can lead to a deeper understanding of Tourette's, and movies are part of that conversation, then it's an incredible thing,” he said.
BAFTA also released a statement in which it acknowledged the 'harm this has caused, address what happened and apologise to all'.
It added, in part: “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.”
What is Coprolalia (involuntary swearing)?
Coprolalia is a condition which affects one in 10 people with Tourette's syndrome, involving the involuntary blurting out of obscene language.
The Tourette Association of America clarifies: "Particularly embarrassing for some individuals with coprolalia are involuntary outbursts within social contexts, such as racial or ethnic slurs in the company of the very people who would be most offended by such remarks.
"A minority of people with coprolalia have this particular problem. It is crucial to understand that these words or complex phrases do not necessarily reflect the thoughts, beliefs or opinions of the person with coprolalia."
As explained by the CDC, people with Tourette's have no control over their tics, with many comparing it to 'having an itch or having to sneeze'.
It is said on the website that while you may try to stop it from happening, 'you will probably scratch or sneeze and you will feel a little better until the urge comes back'.
Who is John Davidson?
Davidson was the subject of 1989 BBC documentary John's Not Mad, which followed him as a 16-year-old schoolboy diagnosed with severe Tourette's syndrome.
He appeared in several follow-up documentaries as he grew up, and his story has been adapted into the film I Swear.
Robert Aramayo stars as Davidson and won Best Actor at the BAFTAs last night, beating out Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke and Michael B Jordan.
Davidson went on to be honoured with an MBE in 2019, and due to his nerves exacerbating his tics, he swore in front of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
He told the BBC: "I began ticcing and shouting and I was absolutely mortified.
"But then I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was one of the Royal Archers, the Queen's bodyguards while she's in Holyrood, and a voice said 'Don't stress, she knows all about your condition'.
"That to me was huge because I've struggled so much with everyday life, with people misunderstanding, and if the Queen of the United Kingdom can understand and ignore the tics and the swear words then why can't the rest of society?"
Topics: BAFTAs, Michael B Jordan, Celebrity, TV and Film
Joshua Nair