Man behind BAFTA N-word slur to watch Scotland awards from separate room

John Davidson, the Scottish Tourette syndrome campaigner whose involuntary outburst overshadowed February’s BAFTA Film Awards when he shouted the N-word, will attend next month’s BAFTA Scotland Awards by watching from a separate room inside the venue.

BAFTA Scotland announced Thursday that “I Swear,” the film based on Mr. Davidson’s life, received seven nominations. Mr. Davidson is an executive producer on the film. Robert Aramayo, who plays Mr. Davidson, is shortlisted for Actor – Film alongside castmates Peter Mullan and Scott Ellis Watson.

In a letter to members, BAFTA Chair Sara Putt and CEO Jane Millichip said the organization consulted Tourettes Action, Tourette Scotland and Mr. Davidson himself, and conducted a broader risk assessment. Mr. Davidson will watch the ceremony by video link from a “relaxed space” with family and friends, an arrangement the executives said he suggested.

People were interested in these podcasts

The letter also acknowledged that tics involving words related to race, religion, sexuality or other protected characteristics “can cause distress and harm to others.” It said BAFTA is responsible for planning around that impact.

The arrangement follows the Feb. 22 BAFTA Film Awards at London’s Royal Festival Hall, where Mr. Davidson yelled the N-word as “Sinners” stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the visual effects award. Such vocal tics, known as coprolalia, occur in an estimated 10% to 15% of people with Tourette syndrome, according to the Tourette Association of America.

BAFTA apologized the next day, saying its guests heard language carrying “incomparable trauma and pain.” The organization said Davidson’s tics were involuntary and not a reflection of his beliefs. It added that he left the auditorium during the ceremony and watched the rest from a screen.

The BBC aired the slur in its delayed broadcast, and the unedited program remained available on iPlayer into Monday. The broadcaster later apologized for not editing it out. Aramayo won best actor at the February ceremony.

The BAFTA Scotland Awards will be held Nov. 15 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central. According to PEOPLE, 41 films and television series received nominations, and Scottish broadcaster Edith Bowman will host.

Advertisement Advertisement

This article was constructed with the assistance of artificial intelligence and published by a member of The Washington Times' AI News Desk team. The contents of this report are based solely on The Washington Times' original reporting, wire services, and/or other sources cited within the report. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Steve Fink, Director of Artificial Intelligence, at sfink@washingtontimes.com

The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.