Jamie Foxx strongly criticized the Tourette’s campaigner who directed a racial slur at Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan during the Baftas ceremony on February 22nd. The incident occurred live at the event where the focus was on celebrating film achievements.
Controversial Remarks Disrupt Baftas Presentation
John Davidson, a Tourette’s syndrome sufferer and the inspiration behind the film I Swear, shocked attendees by shouting the N-word from the audience while Lindo and Jordan were announcing the award for ‘Best Visual Effects,’ which went to Avatar: Fire and Ash. This unexpected outburst interrupted the ceremony and drew immediate attention.
Davidson also made disruptive remarks earlier during the event, including shouting profanities such as “shut the fuck up” and “boring” while Bafta chair Sarah Putt was delivering her speech. According to reports from Variety, Davidson left the ceremony voluntarily without being asked to leave by Bafta officials.
Host Addresses the Incident with Audience
Alan Cumming, hosting the ceremony, acknowledged Davidson’s outbursts twice throughout the event. He asked the audience to maintain respect and understanding, saying,
“Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone.”
Cumming further explained the nature of Tourette’s Syndrome, clarifying,
“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.”
Jamie Foxx Responds to the Baftas Incident
Reacting to the controversy, Jamie Foxx commented on an Instagram post by The Neighborhood Talk, condemning Davidson’s language. Foxx wrote, “Nah he meant that shit,” followed by the word “Unacceptable” in a subsequent comment. In an earlier message that appears to have been deleted, Foxx asked,
“Out of all the words, you could have said Tourette’s makes you say that?”
His responses reflected frustration at the use of such language under the guise of the condition.
Understanding Tourette’s Syndrome and Coprolalia
Davidson’s condition includes Coprolalia, a symptom affecting only a small percentage of people with Tourette’s, characterized by involuntary utterance of socially inappropriate words. The charity Tourette’s Action defines Coprolalia as
“the clinical term for tics that produce socially unacceptable words.”
In an official response, a BBC spokesperson apologized for viewers who may have been offended during the broadcast, 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.”
Success for I Swear Amid Controversy
Despite the disruption, the film I Swear, depicting Davidson’s story and starring Robert Aramayo, enjoyed significant success at the Baftas. Aramayo won the acclaimed ‘Rising Star’ award as well as ‘Best Actor,’ surpassing nominees including Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio. Meanwhile, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another emerged as the biggest winner of the night, securing six awards in total.
