Saturday Night Live is facing criticism for a sketch they released online. The sketch featured actors portraying celebrities and falsely claiming they had Tourette’s syndrome to explain past problematic behavior.
Following last week’s controversy at the BAFTAs, critics quickly condemned the joke as insensitive and disgraceful.
A sketch that wasn’t included in the live NBC broadcast due to time limitations was later released online. It featured cast members impersonating celebrities like Mel Gibson, Armie Hammer, Bill Cosby, J.K. Rowling, and Kanye West.
The controversial sketch features characters who pretend to have Tourette’s syndrome to excuse their previous misbehavior.
Andrew Dismukes, playing Mel Gibson, revealed that he also has Tourette’s syndrome. He joked that this explains many of his past outbursts and controversial statements.
In his take on the character, Connor Storrie’s version of Hammer jokingly references Tourette’s syndrome, saying, ‘Since it’s Tourettes, I guess I have to be forgiven, if not celebrated.’ This line cleverly uses the condition to satirize the actor’s past controversies involving accusations of cannibalism.
The fake public service announcement ends by saying it was created by the National Workforce of Rethinking Disabilities, also known as N.W.O.R.D.
Emma McNally, CEO of Tourette’s Action, stated to Variety that making fun of any disability is wrong and shouldn’t be accepted, just as it wouldn’t be with any other health condition. This applies specifically to people with Tourette’s syndrome.
She explained that Tourette’s syndrome is a complicated neurological condition with no known cure. It’s a serious medical issue, not something to be joked about, seen as a personality quirk, or used for entertainment. Living with Tourette’s can be very difficult, leading to pain, feelings of loneliness, and significant discrimination.
British journalist Lewis Goodall strongly criticized the joke, calling it ‘genuinely shameful.’ He explained that it essentially implies people falsely claim to have severe disabilities.
Other reactions were similarly pointed.
One person expressed strong disapproval, calling a recent event on American television “disgusting.” They were upset by the mocking of a man with a disability, specifically the suggestion that his Tourette’s syndrome was a conscious choice.
Someone expressed outrage at the prospect of a Saturday Night Live skit suggesting people who use wheelchairs are faking their disability, calling it ‘horrendous’.
The issue arose after John Davidson, a disability advocate from Scotland who has Tourette’s syndrome, unintentionally used a racial slur during the BAFTA awards in London last weekend, addressing actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan.
I was so excited to see Jordan kick off the awards night! He presented the first award, for special visual effects, at the Royal Festival Hall, and it was amazing to watch. I was glad the BBC later broadcast the moment so everyone could see it too.
Neither Lindo nor Jordan acknowledged the outburst on stage.
Alan Cumming, who hosted the BAFTAs, said he was sorry if a comment he made was offensive. He also explained that Bill Davidson had decided to leave the awards show on his own.
Davidson afterwards expressed deep embarrassment and clarified that his statements didn’t represent his own views.
He went to the awards ceremony to represent his documentary, I Swear, which chronicles his experiences living with Tourette syndrome – a condition that causes involuntary twitches or noises called tics.
He has lived with the condition since age 12.
Davidson later posted on social media, saying he wouldn’t apologize for having Tourette’s syndrome, but he was sorry if it caused anyone pain or confusion. He expressed gratitude for the ‘love, support, and solidarity’ he received, and called it a ‘very difficult week’.
The BBC apologized for accidentally broadcasting a racial slur and announced a quick investigation to determine how the error happened, calling it a significant mistake.
BAFTA sincerely apologized for using language that was deeply hurtful and caused significant pain to many people.
In an interview with Variety, David Davidson explained that BAFTA had informed him any swearing would be removed from the broadcast. He wondered why he was positioned so close to a microphone, given his Tourette’s syndrome. He also stated that, having worked on four previous documentaries with the BBC, he felt they should have anticipated his condition and taken steps to prevent any unintended language from being aired.
He admitted to yelling several offensive terms during the event, not only the racial slur, but also a derogatory remark aimed at Cumming.
Lindo publicly spoke about the situation for the first time at the NAACP Image Awards in California, expressing gratitude to fans for their ‘love and support’.
Regina Hall and host Deon Cole also referenced the incident during the ceremony.
Davidson, a well-known British advocate who lives with Tourette’s syndrome, has often discussed his experiences, including coprolalia – a condition that can cause people to unintentionally say offensive or inappropriate things.
Tourette’s Action expressed strong support for Davidson and stated they were very upset by the negative reaction to what happened at the BAFTAs.
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2026-03-02 20:34