by Natasha JokicBuzzFeedBuzzFeed StaffI'm a Senior Staff Writer at BuzzFeed covering pop culture, entertainment, and politics. Jamie Foxx weighed in after Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo had a racial slur yelled at them by Tourette syndrome campaigner John Davidson while presenting at the BAFTA Awards. Stuart Wilson/BAFTA / Getty Images for BAFTA For context, John, 54, inspired the BAFTA-nominated movie I Swear. His Tourette symptoms include coprolalia, a vocal tic characterized by "involuntary outburst of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks." The majority of people with Tourette Syndrome do not experience coprolalia, though, like other tics, the cause of it is thought to be physical. It's a neurological disorder, like Alzheimer's or MS. Dave Benett / Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/Getty Images As the Tourette Association of America put it: "Coprolalia is different from simply swearing or using bad language. Usually these vocal tics are not uttered within social or emotional contexts, and often are spoken or repeated compulsively in a louder tone or different cadence or pitch than normal conversational speech. Particularly embarrassing for some individuals with coprolalia are involuntary outbursts within social contexts, such as racial or ethnic slurs in the company of the very people who would be most offended by such remarks...
It is crucial to understand that these words or complex phrases do not necessarily reflect the thoughts, beliefs or opinions of the person with coprolalia." Before the ceremony, the audience was told by a floor manager, "I'd like to welcome John Davidson MBE from one of our nominated films, I Swear. John has Tourette's syndrome, so please be aware you might hear some involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony." When the Sinners stars took to the stage to present the first award of the night, John shouted the n-word from the audience in a moment that could be heard in the initial broadcast of the show. BBC John cursed repeatedly during the show. Host Alan Cumming later said, "Tourette's syndrome is a disability and the tics you've heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette's syndrome has no control over their language. We apologize if you are offended tonight." It wasn't the only time Black attendees were subject to racial slurs that night. Oscar-winning Sinners production designer Hannah Beachler said, "The situation is almost impossible, but it happened 3 times that night, and one of the three times was directed at myself on the way to dinner after the show. And a third time at a Black woman. I understand and deeply know why this is an impossible situation. I know we must handle this with grace and continue to push through. But what made the situation worse was the throw away apology of 'if you were offended.'"at the end of the show. Of course we were offended...but our frequency, our spiritual vibration is tuned to a higher level than what happened. I am not steal, this did not bounce off of me, but I exist above it. It can't take away from who I am as an artist.- HannahBeachler (@HannahEBeachler) February 23, 2026 Hannah Beachler / Via Twitter: @HannahEBeachler Indeed, there was no direct apology given. There was considerable controversy over the BBC airing the slur in the first place, as the production was on a delayed telecast and a winner saying "Free Palestine" was cut out. The BBC has now apologized for broadcasting the racial slur, claiming that they did not initially hear it. Tristan Fewings/BAFTA / Getty Images for BAFTA As the video went viral, Jamie Foxx weighed in on an Instagram repost, writing, "Unacceptable" and "Nah he meant that shit." Jamie FOxx / Via instagram.com According to screenshots, Jamie further wrote, "Out of all the words, you could've said Tourette's makes you say that?" Jerritt Clark / Getty Images for Druski While some agreed with Jamie, others criticized him for making the assumption that the slur was intentional, when Tourette's is characterized by involuntary tics: X / Via x.com X / Via x.com John previously yelled "fuck the Queen" while receiving his MBE in 2019. He later said of the incident, "I began ticcing and shouting and I was absolutely mortified...
But then I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was one of the Royal Archers, the Queen's bodyguards while she's in Holyrood, and a voice said, 'Don't stress, she knows all about your condition.' That to me was huge because I've struggled so much with everyday life, with people misunderstanding." Dave Benett / Dave Benett/WireImage Delroy said that he wished "someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterwards." Michael B. Jordan has yet to respond. UPDATE John issued a statement that read, in part: "I can only add that I am and always have been deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning...I was in attendance to celebrate the film of my life, I Swear, which more than any film or TV documentary, e