The Tourette’s sufferer at the centre of a BBC Baftas race row is no stranger to controversy – after previously shouting ‘f***’ the Queen‘ at the late Elizabeth II and also featuring in an iconic documentary.

John Davidson became prominent after the programme John’s Not Mad, back in 1989 – and now faces fresh scrutiny after shouting racial slurs at an awards showcase, having previously prompted a bomb scare at Buckingham Palace.

He returned to public consciousness in last year’s movie I Swear, in which he was played by Robert Aramayo who won the Bafta for Best Actor on Sunday – a surprise victory over rival contenders Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo Di Caprio.

Davidson, 54, was diagnosed with Tourette’s in his childhood, when little was known about the condition, and has since dedicated his life to raising awareness.

Yet his presence at the showpiece ceremony in central London has provoked criticism as he was accused of racism – and the BBC was also condemned.

He was heard to yell the N-word while Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage to present the first award at London’s Royal Festival Hall.

The outburst was audible on BBC1’s initial broadcast of the show, before later being removed – and there have been apologies, including from Baftas host Alan Cumming. 

Jordan and Lindo, stars of the movie Sinners, did not react on stage – But Cumming later said, ‘We apologise if it has caused offence’, and Davidson made the decision to leave the ceremony halfway through after a series of outbursts.

John Davidson is pictured here arriving at the BAFTA British Academy Film Awards at London’s Royal Festival Hall on the evening of Sunday 22 February 2026

The campaigner became known after featuring in an edition of the BBC documentary series QED called John’s Not Mad in 1989

I Swear stars Robert Aramayo (pictured in the film) as campaigner John Davidson and depicts his younger years living in Glasgow, when he was first diagnosed with Tourette’s 

Despite there being a two-hour time delay on the BBC‘s coverage, his slur was aired to millions tuning in on BBC1 and could still be heard on iPlayer on Monday morning. 

A BBC spokesperson later said: ‘Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards. This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional.

‘We apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer.’

Davidson’s actions has divided opinion, with Django Unchained star Jamie Foxx now fuming on social media: ‘Out of all the words you could’ve said Tourette’s makes you say that. Nah he meant that s***. Unacceptable.’ 

Charity Tourette’s Action said it ‘deeply understands that these words can cause hurt’ but insisted they were ‘not a reflection of a person’s beliefs, intentions or character’.

The organisation said it was ‘incredibly proud’ of Mr Davidson and those involved in the film I Swear, with a spokesperson adding: ‘We also want to address the negative comments that have surfaced following John’s involuntary vocal tics during the ceremony.

‘We deeply understand that these words can cause hurt but at the same time it is vital that the public understands a fundamental truth about Tourette syndrome, tics are involuntary. They are not a reflection of a person’s beliefs, intentions or character.’

Davidson has suffered from a severe form of Tourette’s since the age of 12, with the condition characterised by involuntary movements or sounds known as tics.

John Davidson was heard yelling the N-word during a presentation by black actors Michael B. Jordan (left) and Delroy Lindo (right)

In the 1989 documentary John’s Not Mad, he cut a sad and lonely figure as the cameras followed him around his home town of Galashiels in the Scottish Borders.

He said: ‘Tourette’s is such an awful condition that most of the time I don’t want to be the centre of attention.

‘I want to be able to walk down the street and not be noticed because I’m shouting or swearing.’

Looking back on the programme broadcast 37 years ago in the BBC’s QED series, Davidson said: ‘Back then, we knew that Tourette’s existed but it was a rare condition. There’s nothing rare about it now. Millions of people live with it.

‘This film raises awareness but it also gives people the grit and determination to keep going, fight on for their kids, go to schools, go to your local MPs. We need people to stand up and listen.’

He added: ‘Not long after that first documentary was out, I realised I finally had a platform to try and change the way people with Tourette’s were viewed.

‘I knew there had to be other people out there with the condition, although we were told it was very rare. And from then I just was determined to try and make life as bearable as possible.’

Davidson has likened Tourette’s to ‘someone else controlling my mind’ and revealing it previously left him suicidal – with symptoms heightened during moments of stress, noting: ‘The more you worry, the more likely it is that you should be worried.

In the 1989 documentary John’s Not Mad, John Davidson cut a sad and lonely figure as the cameras followed him around his home town of Galashiels in the Scottish Borders. 

He went on to become a leading advocate for the condition, which affects one in 100 children

‘It’s never a case of, “Will I embarrass myself?” – it’s a case of when, and how badly.’

One such example of being in a high stress environment occurred when he received his MBE from the late Queen in recognition of ‘his efforts to increase understanding of [Tourette’s] and helping families deal with it across the country.’

When his car was being searched by police on entry to Buckingham Palace in 2019, Davidson involuntarily yelled: ‘A bomb! I’ve got a f***ing bomb!’ – and then when meeting Elizabeth II herself, he shouted: ‘F*** the Queen!’ 

He later recalled to the Daily Mail: ‘It was absolutely awful.

‘There was a military band playing and I thought some of the guys were going to choke on their instruments, they were trying so hard not to laugh.

‘But the Queen never batted an eyelid. She was just so cool and calm. She was very lovely and asked about the documentaries and congratulated me on doing so well.

‘She’s probably had that slur thrown at her before, although maybe not in her own palace.’

Having returned to his seat, he then responded to another honours recipient being announced ‘for services to water-skiing’, that he exclaimed: ‘F***ing water-skiing!’ – before excusing himself and moving away from the ceremony to decompress.

John Davidson, pictured in 2007, likens his condition to someone else controlling his mind

When youth worker John Davidson met the late Queen Elizabeth II he suddenly blurted out, ‘F*** the Queen!’ – though later suggested she took the incident in her stride

Davidson has struggled with his tics since childhood, developing them suddenly at the age of 10. 

Tourette’s rarely appears alone, and the majority of people also have conditions like ADHD, OCD, anxiety or autism.

Kirk Jones, writer and director of the film I Swear, has welcomed what he highlights as better understanding of the condition.

Jones has said: ‘In 2025 there are so many more things that you can say which are explosive in a sentence,.

‘You can walk down the street and just shout a couple of words and it could get you punched, it could get you arrested, it could get you beaten up.

‘I really hope that this film can make people think twice about giving people space, giving them time, having patience with people who aren’t exactly like you are.’