I Swear director reveals he had ‘lengthy meetings’ with BAFTA about Tourette’s sufferer John Davidson – as judge resigns after ‘unforgivable’ handling of N-word outburst

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Kirk Jones, the director of ‘I Swear,’ has said he spoke with BAFTA officials at length before John Davidson, who has Tourette’s syndrome, appeared in the audience during Sunday night’s event.

Although Robert Aramayo, the film’s lead actor, won two awards, the event was overshadowed by a controversial incident. John was overheard using a racial slur while Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan were on stage presenting the award for special visual effects.

John, age 54, left the auditorium before the event finished and later said he was sorry. The BBC also apologized for failing to remove a racist term from the broadcast that was shown later.

Jonte Richardson has resigned from his position as a Bafta judge due to concerns about how the organization dealt with a recent incident.

The film’s director recently told The Telegraph that they had extensive discussions with BAFTA to make sure John would be at ease during the awards ceremony on Sunday.

Alan Cumming, who hosted the BAFTAs, apologized to the audience after unexpected outbursts from John during the show.

Alan acknowledged some potentially offensive language used during the performance, explaining that it was intended to reflect the experience of someone with Tourette syndrome, as depicted in the film ‘I Swear’.

Tourette syndrome is a disability that causes involuntary tics – sudden, repetitive movements or sounds. People with Tourette’s can’t control these tics, and we apologize if anything expressed tonight was unintentionally offensive.

The activist left the venue before the event finished and later said they were sorry. The BBC also apologized for failing to remove a racist term from the broadcast that was shown with a delay.

I was really surprised to hear that after finishing the script, they told Kirk that the movie needed to cut down on its swearing. Apparently, they were worried it wouldn’t do well internationally if it didn’t!

The film contains 98 uses of the word ‘fuck’ and 28 of the word ‘cunt’, but the director, Kirk, insisted on having full creative control.

As a professional who understands the importance of integrity, I’ve been following the recent BAFTA situation closely. It’s come to my attention that Jonte, one of the judges, has decided to step down. He shared on LinkedIn that it was a difficult decision, but after a lot of personal reflection, he felt he couldn’t continue in his role given how the recent incident was handled. It’s a reminder that sometimes, staying true to your values means making tough choices.

The organization’s response to the upsetting incident involving a Tourette’s outburst with a racial slur at last night’s awards ceremony was completely unacceptable.

I refuse to offer my time, effort, or skills to an organization that has consistently disrespected and failed to protect the well-being of its Black guests, members, and artists.

It’s especially disappointing considering how much amazing Black talent there is this year, including the fantastic show ‘Just Act Normal,’ which was a personal highlight of 2025.

However, if an organization like Bafta, which has a history of its own issues with racism, won’t admit the harm it’s caused to Black and disabled people and offer a sincere apology, continuing to participate would be like accepting that behavior as okay.

I hope BAFTA and the BBC understand the harm they’ve caused and will take action to make sure their teams are more inclusive, preventing similar problems from happening again.

Jonte used to tour as a musician and now works in film and television, both in the UK and the US. He’s worked with major stars like Beyoncé, Denzel Washington, and Queen Latifah.

He resigned before John had a chance to respond, explaining he was very upset if anyone thought his involuntary movements were deliberate or had a hidden meaning.

The activist explained he left the event early because he realized his involuntary movements were upsetting people.

John expressed his gratitude to BAFTA and the entire awards team for their support, understanding, and the invitation to participate in the broadcast last night.

I was grateful for the heads-up given to the audience before we started recording. It explained that my tics happen automatically and don’t represent my opinions or feelings.

Honestly, hearing that applause after the announcement just meant the world to me. It was like a huge weight lifted, and for the first time, I felt truly accepted and like people got me, especially considering how unlikely a place like this would usually be for someone like me.

Bafta issued an apology Monday night for the incident, stating it fully accepts responsibility for placing its guests in an uncomfortable position.

Bafta has apologized for offensive language used during last night’s Film Awards, recognizing the pain and trauma it caused to many people. They are addressing the incident and acknowledging the harm it caused.

John Davidson, one of our guests and a Member of the British Empire, lives with Tourette syndrome. He’s dedicated his life to teaching others about the condition and advocating for greater awareness. Tourette’s causes involuntary tics – brief, repetitive movements or sounds – that people can’t control.

These involuntary movements don’t reflect a person’s beliefs and happen without conscious control. John Davidson is an executive producer on the Bafta-nominated film I Swear, which tells the story of his own life.

We prioritize the well-being of all our guests and believe in creating an inclusive environment. To ensure everyone felt comfortable, we informed the audience before and during the event that John, who has tics, was present. We explained they might hear unexpected noises or see sudden movements, and occasionally strong language, as a result.

During the ceremony, an offensive term was unfortunately audible to many attendees. This occurred while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage, and we sincerely apologize to them and to everyone who was affected. We are grateful for their grace and professionalism in handling this situation.

During the event, John made the considerate decision to view the remainder of the ceremony on a screen rather than stay in the auditorium. We want to thank him for his grace and thoughtfulness, especially as it should have been a celebratory night for him.

We sincerely apologize for the difficult experience our guests had and take full responsibility for the situation. We’re committed to learning from this and will continue to prioritize inclusion in everything we do, as we believe film and storytelling are powerful tools for building understanding and compassion.

Tourette’s syndrome, as defined by the NHS, is a condition where people experience sudden, repeated sounds or movements. Sometimes, and quite rarely, these involuntary tics can include unintentional offensive language.

It says there is no cure but treatment can help to manage the tics.

In 2019, John received an MBE for his work raising awareness of Tourette’s syndrome and supporting families affected by it.

The series ‘I Swear’ stars Robert Aramayo as John, a man who campaigns for greater understanding of Tourette’s syndrome. It shows his life growing up in Glasgow and his initial diagnosis with the condition.

The film was nominated in the Outstanding British Film category, but lost out to Hamnet. 

Robert won the award for Best Actor, surprising many as Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet were considered the favorites.

He also won the EE Rising Star Award, the only public-voted accolade of the night.  

Peter Mullan, who played Tommy Trotter in the movie, was also up for Best Supporting Actor, but Sean Penn won the award for his performance in One Battle After Another.

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2026-02-24 13:35