Actor who plays Tourette’s campaigner defends him over shouting racial slur at BAFTAs
Robert Aramayo picked up two BAFTAs for his performance as John Davidson in I Swear
Last night (23 February), Robert Aramayo beat out Hollywood favourites to pick up the BAFTA best actor.
The 33-year-old plays John Davidson in the film I Swear, inspired by the Tourette’s campaigner’s life. He won Best Actor last night, beating Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke and Michael B Jordan. He also picked up the award for Rising Star, which is voted for by the public.
Aramayo went on to defend the Scottish man and say it’s a ‘joint responsibility’ after he had audible outbursts during the awards ceremony.
The campaigner was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome after developing tics and uncontrollable vocalisations as a teen. He reportedly had a number of outbursts of offensive language at the BAFTAs, including shouting out a racial slur while Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage.
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A number of attendees online have claimed this happened at other points also, with Davidson eventually said to have left the room at London’s Royal Festival Hall.
Host Alan Cumming thanked the audience for helping ‘to create a respectful space for everyone’ with it clear the campaigner had ‘no control’ over the tics.
“You may have noticed some strong language in the background,” he added. “This can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people, as the film explores that experience.”
And when Aramayo spoke to reporters following his wins last night, a BBC reporter said: “You could hear him shouting and words people find offensive.”
The actor responded: “First of all, there are tics. He is ticcing. We have to understand. The way we perceive Tourette's is 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."
Speaking of the condition, he added: "It’s complicated and complex and it requires us to have grace."
Other outbursts audible during the ceremony included Davidson shouting ‘f**k off’ and ‘shut the f**k up’, with the tics heard in the TV broadcast.
And a BBC spokesperson has now said: "Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards. This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional.
"We apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer."
It appears Davidson left the room during the second half of the ceremony.
Variety reports that it’s understood the campaigner left of his own accord and was not asked to leave by BAFTA. A source told the outlet that he was an ‘invited guest’ and under no circumstances would Davidson be asked to leave the awards ceremony.
LADbible Group has contacted BAFTA for comment.
What is coprolalia (involuntary swearing)?
Coprolalia affects one in 10 people with Tourette's syndrome, and it means they will involuntarily blurt out obscene language.
The Tourette Association of America writes: "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."
The CDC emphasises that people with Tourette's cannot control their tics, saying many people compare it to 'having an itch or having to sneeze'.
The website explains: "You may try to stop the feeling, but eventually you will probably scratch or sneeze and you will feel a little better until the urge comes back.
"When people try to hold back their tics, it can cause stress, and the tic may become worse."
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.
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?"
LADbible Group has contacted BAFTA for comment.
Topics: BAFTAs, TV and Film
Jess Battison