John Davidson is speaking out after a deeply uncomfortable moment at the 2026 BAFTA Awards put him at the center of a firestorm.
The actor, who lives with Tourette syndrome, involuntarily shouted a racial slur while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting the Best Visual Effects award. The unexpected outburst stunned the audience and quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the night.
In a new interview, Davidson described the anxiety building inside him before the incident. He said his tics started as minor sounds and movements but escalated as the pressure of the live event intensified. When coprolalia—a rare symptom of Tourette’s that can cause involuntary swearing—took over, he said he felt immediate dread. “The shame and embarrassment hit me like a tidal wave,” Davidson explained, adding that he wished he could “disappear” in that moment.
Davidson attended the ceremony in support of his semi-autobiographical film I Swear, which chronicles his life with Tourette syndrome. He said he hoped people in the room would understand that the outburst was a symptom of his condition—not a reflection of his character. Internally, he said he kept pleading for compassion and understanding.
Ultimately, he chose to leave the ceremony to prevent further disruption. According to Davidson, BAFTA organizers provided a private space where he could watch the rest of the show. He also reached out to Warner Bros., the studio behind Sinners, to personally apologize to Jordan and Lindo following the incident.
