Saturday Night Live has sparked a fierce debate among viewers after it responded to last week’s controversial moment at the Baftas with a sketch lampooning the incident involving Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson.
Mr Davidson, whose life inspired the film I Swear that earned Robert Aramayo the Best Actor award, involuntarily uttered the N-word towards Sinners actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan during the British ceremony.
The NBC comedy programme’s segment, titled “Tourette’s”, opened by explaining how the neurological condition can cause people to say things they do not intend.
What followed was a parade of disgraced or outspoken celebrities using the disorder as justification for their past controversies.
John Davidson (middle) had received assurances that any offensive tics would be removed from the broadcast
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GETTYThe sketch featured Heated Rivalry star Connor Storrie, who was hosting the programme, impersonating Armie Hammer. In character, he declared: “Hi cuties, I’m Armie Hammer, and not many people know this, but one of the most common side effects is cannibalism.”
The parody Mr Hammer continued by describing how the condition could take over whilst messaging someone, causing him to type things like “I’m literally going to eat you”, before concluding: “But since it’s Tourette’s, I guess I have to be forgiven if not celebrated. Thanks, medicine.”
A mock JK Rowling also appeared, suggesting Tourette’s could manifest as “years-long obsession with something like trans rights”.
The sketch, which wasn’t initially broadcast on NBC but later released online, also took aim at Bill Cosby, Louis CK, and Kanye West, with each figure similarly attributing their controversies to the condition.
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— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) March 1, 2026
Real Housewives of New York personality Jill Zarin, portrayed by cast member Sarah Sherman, was included following her recent dismissal from the franchise’s revival series after criticising Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance.
Her character claimed to suffer from “severe long-winded monologue-style Tourette’s, a condition that affects nine out of 10 people on Long Island.”
The segment concluded with a mock public service announcement crediting the “National Workforce of Rethinking Disabilities” — an acronym that spells out N.W.O.R.D.
The SNL audience during the recording appeared to find the sketch funny, as laughter could be heard throughout. However, once the skit found a new home online, the response differed greatly.
SNL: Kenan Thompson played Bill Cosby in the skit
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NBC
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“I love SNL but this is a very wrong view about Tourettes,” one viewer penned on X, while a second echoed: “Wow, what a terrible take.”
“So much happened last week to make fun of, yet they chose an actual disability?” a third questioned.
And a fourth similarly hit out: “Not the worst thing Americans have done this Saturday, but only because the bar is high by your country’s own criminal standards.”
“So I guess it’s ok to make fun of people’s disabilities,” a fifth asserted, while a sixth slammed: “Oh my word, that is just awful.
SNL: JK Rowling was also targeted by the sketch
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NBC
“I love SNL and I’m so disappointed. How can people truly lack that amount of knowledge, compassion and understanding? I really hope John Davison never ever sees this.”
However, some fans applauded the mockery. “This sketch was cut for time from tonight’s episode of SNL. Which is a shame because it’s one of the best SNL sketches I’ve ever seen,” one fan argued on X.
And a second agreed: “This should have aired, but we’ll take it as an unaired classic.” (sic)
Mr Davidson has since expressed deep regret over the incident, stating he is “deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning”.
John Davidson was invited to this year’s Baftas | PA
The campaigner also sought to clarify the reporting around the event, noting: “I would appreciate reports of the event explaining that I ticked perhaps 10 different offensive words on the night of the awards.
“The N-word was one of these, and I completely understand its significance in history and in the modern world, but most articles are giving the impression I shouted one single slur on Sunday.”
Mr Davidson has also expressed dismay at the BBC’s handling of the incident, criticising the broadcast for failing to edit out the tic and positioning him near a microphone in the auditorium.
Bafta host Alan Cumming apologised during the ceremony for the “strong language”, attributing it to “involuntary verbal tics”. The racial slur was broadcast on the BBC’s tape-delayed coverage of the awards.
The BBC has since begun a “fast-tracked” investigation into the incident.
