John Davidson, a prominent Tourette's campaigner whose film I Swear earned seven Scottish Bafta nominations, has asked to view the Glasgow ceremony remotely after unintentionally shouting a racial slur at the BAFTA Film Awards in February. The BBC apologised for not removing the slur from its delayed broadcast and iPlayer. BAFTA Scotland worked with safeguarding and inclusion experts and said Davidson suggested watching from a separate room or via video link. Winners will be revealed on 15 November in Glasgow.
After Racial Slur at BAFTAs, Tourette's Campaigner John Davidson To View Scottish Baftas Remotely
John Davidson's tics could be heard several times during the Bafta Film Awards ceremony in February [Getty Images]
Tourette's campaigner John Davidson has asked to watch this year's Scottish Baftas remotely after controversy over a racial slur he unintentionally shouted during the BAFTA Film Awards in London in February.
Davidson's autobiographical film I Swear—which chronicles his experience growing up with Tourette syndrome in 1980s Scotland—received seven Scottish Bafta nominations and previously won three prizes at the BAFTA Film Awards in London.
At the London ceremony, Davidson, whose condition causes involuntary vocal and physical tics, repeatedly shouted a racial slur (commonly referred to as the N-word) while presenters Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage. The remark was broadcast on BBC One, which was transmitted on a two-hour delay, and remained available on BBC iPlayer until the following day. The BBC later apologised for failing to remove the language from its televised coverage.
The racial slur was shouted while Michael B Jordan (left) and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award [Getty Images]
BAFTA Scotland said it consulted safeguarding and inclusion experts to ensure Davidson could take part in the upcoming Glasgow ceremony "in the safest way possible for all." According to the organisation, Davidson proposed viewing the event from a separate room at the venue with family and friends, or participating via video link.
Davidson, from Galashiels and awarded an MBE in 2019 for his Tourette's advocacy, said he was "deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning." He added that he had left the London auditorium early after realising the distress his tics were causing.
BAFTA thanked Davidson for his "dignity and consideration of others" and apologised to guests for the difficult situation, saying the organisation would learn from the incident and keep inclusion central to its work.
This year's Scottish Bafta nominations for I Swear include Peter Mullan, Robert Aramayo, Scott Ellis Watson and Shirley Henderson. Other notable television acting nominees include Dougray Scott (Summerwater), Jack Lowden (Slow Horses), Peter Capaldi (Criminal Record) and Robert Carlyle (The Hack).
The Scottish Bafta winners will be announced on 15 November at a ceremony in Glasgow hosted by broadcaster Edith Bowman.
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