Home / Arts and Entertainment / Tourette's Abuse: BAFTA Slur Sparks Community Outrage
Tourette's Abuse: BAFTA Slur Sparks Community Outrage
26 Feb
Summary
- Tourette's community members report facing abuse post-BAFTA incident.
- John Davidson's involuntary slur caused distress and controversy.
- Pete Bennett advocates for understanding and acceptance of Tourette's.
Big Brother star Pete Bennett has shared that he and others in the Tourette's community have experienced abuse following the controversy surrounding John Davidson's involuntary N-word outburst at the BAFTAs. This incident has intensified the ongoing struggle for acceptance faced by those with Tourette's syndrome.
Bennett pointed out the BBC's decision to place Davidson, who has no control over his verbal tics, near a microphone. He emphasized that tics, like his own, lack malice, and likened the daily challenges of living with Tourette's to the deep pain caused by racial slurs.
Davidson, whose life inspired the film "I Swear," has expressed deep mortification over the incident. He has battled a severe form of Tourette's since age 12, which includes coprolalia, the involuntary utterance of socially inappropriate words.
The BAFTA ceremony, which aired on BBC One and remained available on iPlayer, initially faced criticism for not editing out the slur. The BBC later admitted it should have been removed prior to broadcast and has since removed the offensive segment from iPlayer.
Davidson chose to leave the ceremony early due to the distress his tics were causing. He appreciated the advance announcement about his condition and felt welcomed by the understanding shown.
