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Kirk Jones, the director behind the Bafta-winning movie *I Swear*, expressed disappointment over how John Davidson was treated during the recent awards ceremony. Davidson, a campaigner for Tourette’s syndrome awareness, unintentionally uttered a racist slur due to his involuntary verbal tics, which was then broadcast during the BBC’s coverage of the event. Jones voiced his frustration, stating that Davidson was “let down on many, many levels,” emphasizing that the airing of the tic was one of the worst failures that night.
Davidson’s condition causes uncontrollable verbal tics, and attendees had been forewarned that such interruptions might occur. Despite this, the broadcast of the offensive word caught many off guard. Davidson himself reflected on the incident, telling *Variety* that he questioned the decision to have a microphone so close to his seat, especially knowing his tics could be amplified. Bafta responded by investigating the microphone issue, clarifying that the device was only for monitoring sound levels and was not intended to amplify or broadcast audio from the room.
The incident sparked strong reactions across the cultural and political spectrum. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described the broadcast as “completely unacceptable and harmful,” confirming she had spoken to BBC Director General Tim Davie and insisting safeguards be put in place to prevent such occurrences in the future. The BBC issued an apology, labeling the event “a serious mistake” and announced a swift investigation managed by the Executive Complaints Unit. Bafta also expressed regret for the distress caused and confirmed that a thorough review was underway. Meanwhile, Jones revealed he only realized the clip had aired when he began receiving messages early the next morning, and admitted the aftermath caused him sleepless nights.
The controversy ignited widespread discussion about awareness and sensitivity surrounding Tourette’s syndrome. Although some suggested Davidson should not have been invited to the ceremony due to the risk of tics, Jones strongly rejected this notion, pointing out the irony given that the film itself was created to highlight Davidson’s experience. Jones decried the misunderstanding and stigmatization Davidson faced, underscoring the outdated attitudes exposed by public reactions. Davidson, for his part, described a “wave of shame and embarrassment” following the broadcast but also noted that the ordeal brought greater attention to Tourette’s, making it a significant topic of conversation in a very short time
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