Tourette's syndrome activist who yelled racial slur at Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo at BAFTAs speaks out

John Davidson has described himself as being 'deeply mortified' following his Tourette's syndrome tics at yesterday's BAFTAs.

Davidson was at the ceremony to support the film I Swear, a movie about his life that was up for a handful of awards.

Part of his statement shared, via Deadline, reads: "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."

He added that he felt 'deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning' following Jamie Foxx suggesting that Davidson 'meant that sh*t' when it came to the racial slur said when Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage.

John Davidson has addressed his tics that happened during the BAFTAs (Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Davidson's statement went on: "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. I chose to leave the auditorium early into the ceremony as I was aware of the distress my tics were causing."

As well as yelling the N-word during the ceremony, Davidson shouted 'f*ck you' and 'shut the f*ck up'.

Elsewhere, Davidson said he appreciated that a warning was given before the filming of the ceremony began.

"I appreciated the announcement to the auditorium in advance of the recording, warning everyone that my tics are involuntary and are not a reflection of my personal beliefs," he said, per Vanity Fair.

"I was heartened by the round of applause that followed this announcement and felt welcomed and understood in an environment that would normally be impossible for me."

Robert Aramayo portrays Davidson in the film 'I Swear' (Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Just a few months before last night's ceremony, Davidson opened up about the hardships that come with having Tourette's syndrome and called it 'awful'.

"Tourette's is such an awful condition that most of the time I don't want to be the centre of attention," he told the BBC back in September 2025.

"I want to be able to walk down the street and not be noticed because I'm shouting or swearing."

Davidson, who received an MBE in 2019, once ticced in front of the late Queen Elizabeth before.

He recalled: "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'."