John Davidson Was Told Swearing Would Be Cut from BAFTA Awards

The autopsy of what exactly went wrong at the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards continues.

By now, the story of Tourette Syndrome activist John Davidson involuntarily using a racial slur when Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo took the stage to present an award has become the most talked-about event of the 2025-2026 award season. While most seem to agree that Davidson could not control his speech in that moment and did not have racist intent, the British Academy and the BBC broadcast have both been scrutinized for not taking more steps to prevent such offensive language from being heard on air and by those in the room.

Both organizations have put out statements of apology following the events of the show, with BAFTA also announcing a “comprehensive review” of its policies.

Now, Davidson himself has weighed in on the topic. In a new interview with Variety, Davidson echoed the many commentators who have suggested that his use of the n-word should have been edited out of the broadcast. Davidson claims that he was told before the show that any profanity would be excluded, and expressed surprise that a broadcast partner that has previously covered his condition extensively was not better prepared for potential incidents.

“StudioCanal were working closely with BAFTA, and BAFTA had made us all aware that any swearing would be edited out of the broadcast,” Davidson said. “I have made four documentaries with the BBC in the past, and feel that they should have been aware of what to expect from Tourette’s and worked harder to prevent anything that I said — which, after all, was some 40 rows back from the stage — from being included in the broadcast.”

While Davidson maintained that Tourette Syndrome should not bar anyone from attending award shows or other public events, he also questioned the decision to seat him near a microphone, which could have amplified his outbursts that might have otherwise gone unnoticed by people onstage and watching at home.

“As I reflect on the auditorium, I remember there was a microphone just in front of me,” he said. “With hindsight I have to question whether this was wise, so close to where I was seated, knowing I would tic.”