BAFTAs Host Alan Cumming Apologizes For 'Trauma Triggering' Tourette’s Incident

Alan Cumming is apologizing for the viral BAFTAs incident.

As we’re sure you know, guest John Davidson — an activist with Tourette’s Action, and someone who also has Tourette’s Syndrome — experienced a tic and yelled a slur during the award ceremony. The tic was awful. It was a shouted N-word while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were onstage while presenting an award.

John deals with Coprolalia, a symptom some people have with their Tourette’s Syndrome, which according to the Tourette Association of America, causes “the involuntary outburst of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks”. Meanwhile, it was obviously DEEPLY hurtful for Michael and Delroy to hear that word during a moment that was supposed to be a celebration. John even voluntarily left the show after it happened.

Now, a week later, host Alan Cumming is addressing the incident after making a statement onstage that night. He said on Instagram Monday:

“It’s now a week since I hosted the BAFTAs. What should have been an evening celebrating creativity as well as diversity and inclusion turned into a trauma triggering s**t show. I’m so sorry for all the pain Black people have felt at hearing that word echoed round the world. I’m so sorry the Tourettes community has been reminded of the lack of understanding and tolerance that abounds regarding their condition.”

He continued:

“The only possible good that could come of this is a reminder that words matter, that rushing into judgment about things of which we are not fully [cognizant] is folly, that all trauma must be recognized an honored.”

Wrapping up his statement, the actor said:

“We were all let down by decisions made to both broadcast slurs and censor free speech. Congratulations to all the artists whose work was overshadowed by the night’s events.”

See the full post (below):