‘N word’ at the BAFTAs

An apology with an explanation was given by the presenter and that IMO should have been enough for those in attendance and for anyone who watched it on tv and heard what was said.

It's absolutely ridiculous - I bet most of those complaining haven't even seen the film. They need to educate themselves about Tourette's - I'm not sure what part of 'involuntary tics' they don't understand.
However, it's been wonderful to see so many people coming out to speak up in support of John on social media. It's certainly united us here in Scotland! I have friends who are friends with John and have worked with him for years - Galashiels, his home town, isn't that far from me.

It was an unfortunate incident, the BBC should of course have edited out.
Regarding John Davidson, no he should not have apologised.
This is a symptom of hit Tourette’s and should be understood and ignored.

As a teenager and into her twenties our daughter had a lovely male friend with Tourette’s.
Their friendship group always impressed me when he shouted out highly inappropriate things they would totally ignore it and carry on as though nothing happened.

This was the correct response and meant he was less likely to be triggered and tic more.

Completely agree with Daddima. Still so much ignorance about Tourette’s. The poor guy cannot control his tics or his language.

I used to watch a series about people with special needs going on dates. It featured a few who had Tourette’s and shouted out very offensive comments but could not stop themselves.
Katie Price’s son, Harvey once did the same on daytime TV and people were saying it was her fault.

This over reaction totally contrasts with understanding and accepting disabilities.
How ignorant of those complaining.

They are just ignorant and with a mindset like they have nothing will change them.

Contrast that to the message in the film from a very courageous man.

Smileless2012

An apology with an explanation was given by the presenter and that IMO should have been enough for those in attendance and for anyone who watched it on tv and heard what was said.

It wasn't broadcast live.

The BBC’s broadcast of the Baftas started two hours after the event itself, allowing editors ample time to edit down proceedings into a two-hour package. The BBC should have edited out the N word before the program was broadcast (as they did with other terms unsuitable for broadcast)

Then the only people who heard it, were those present at the event. Nobody would have heard it "on TV".

It’s not ppl with neuro diversity vs people who are black it’s about a broadcaster not dubbing an offensive word

So, ‘I Swear’, the excellent film about John Davidson and his life with Tourette’s Syndrome wins three awards at the BAFTAs.

It seems to be the height of irony that a man who made a film about the problems he has with Tourette's Syndrome then received complaints because of something he couldn't help because he has Tourette's Syndrome.

I remember watching a film years ago on TV featuring people with Tourette's, it was enlightening.

The BBC have explained the editing was being done in a van outside and they didn't hear the word. Apparently it wasnt very clear.

Handy bit of BBC bashing.

theworriedwell

The BBC have explained the editing was being done in a van outside and they didn't hear the word. Apparently it wasnt very clear.

Handy bit of BBC bashing.

They heard and edited out other words 🤷‍♀️

No BBC bashing from me.

"In the UK, coprolalia (involuntary, obscene vocal tics associated with Tourette Syndrome) is recognized as a disability. While it involves shouting offensive language, it is distinct from hate speech because it lacks intent. Legal protections against discrimination apply, but incidents can cause significant public distress and conflict with free speech/offence laws."

Allira

^So, ‘I Swear’, the excellent film about John Davidson and his life with Tourette’s Syndrome wins three awards at the BAFTAs^.

It seems to be the height of irony that a man who made a film about the problems he has with Tourette's Syndrome then received complaints because of something he couldn't help because he has Tourette's Syndrome.

I remember watching a film years ago on TV featuring people with Tourette's, it was enlightening.

Totally agree.
It was a film about a man with a syndrome, and he was there, sadly this took the joy away from him. He didn't do this on purpose, complete over reaction to this.

Well it depends what they heard. I didn't hear it but it was supposed to be hard to hear and harder in the van.

There is some BBC bashing going on, doesn't mean it doesn't happen because you didn't do it. I didn't do it either funnily enough.

Allira

"In the UK, coprolalia (involuntary, obscene vocal tics associated with Tourette Syndrome) is recognized as a disability. While it involves shouting offensive language, it is distinct from hate speech because it lacks intent. Legal protections against discrimination apply, but incidents can cause significant public distress and conflict with free speech/offence laws."

I was on a train a few weeks ago. A man with really bad tourettes got on, he immediately said he had it and could not control his shouting. Some people started moaning at his first outburst. Other people told them off which was good to hear.

It's a horrible condition.

theworriedwell

The BBC have explained the editing was being done in a van outside and they didn't hear the word. Apparently it wasnt very clear.

Handy bit of BBC bashing.

The BBC engineers inside the venue witnessed/ knew it had been said, (and exactly when in the ceremony it happened.)

The BBC producer and director was then responsible to then message the OB vehicle and alert them. They had two hours to do that before broadcast.

Long before broadcast , the OB staff had seen and heard Cummings apologise for it on stage.

"We never heard it" just doesn't wash.

Exactly butterandjam this is why I do not understand people say people are BBC bashing.

I witnessed a man with tourretes on a train once and sadly his outburst was directed at a group school girls. Everyone could see how upsetting it was all round and how nothing could be done. The BBC failed in their editing. It’s not BBC bashing.

It's the constant repetition by the media of the phrase "racial slur" that grates with me. It is NOT a slur, there was no^intent^of deliberately insulting or needing to hurt but a symptom of this man's disability! Huge difference.
He tic'd "F*ck the Queen" at his MBE investiture at Buckingham Palace where the late Queen Elizabeth, with an obvious understanding of Tourette's, apparently chose to ignore it and calmly carried on.

Nannee49

It's the constant repetition by the media of the phrase "racial slur" that grates with me. It is NOT a slur, there was no^intent^of deliberately insulting or needing to hurt but a symptom of this man's disability! Huge difference.
He tic'd "F*ck the Queen" at his MBE investiture at Buckingham Palace where the late Queen Elizabeth, with an obvious understanding of Tourette's, apparently chose to ignore it and calmly carried on.

I really don’t see any equivalence between f the Queen and the n word ( which has a resonance we don’t understand to African - Americans who were the ‘target’. )I don’t know what the answer is but saying it’s been over blown isn’t it. The possibility clearly wasn’t thought through and it should have been.

And I do wonder what the reaction would have been if it had been an anti-Semitic phrase.

He uses every range of slur known to man . Misogynistic, homophobic, racist. Because you know it is a disability.

Tuliptree

And I do wonder what the reaction would have been if it had been an anti-Semitic phrase.

You do realise that he can't help it, right? Even if he had said something anti-Semitic, I would hope people would realise that. Put it this way, if he saw me in the street, he might well call me a 'fat c&nt' - would I take offence? No, because I know it's an involuntary tic - part of his condition.

The equivalence is in the intent tuliptree. Both verbal tics could be taken as shocking to differing sensibilities without an understanding of the condition.
Isn't illustrating the tic-ing and the distress it can cause the whole point of the film?

Of course I understand it’s involuntary. But clearly not unexpected. So why didn’t BAFTA simply talk to the two actors beforehand and warn them it might happen? In fact talk to all the nominees as he might have shouted out other things that could have sounded shocking. I think being prepared could have made a real difference plus the BBC could have had a plan for any necessary cutting out before broadcast. As I said not well planned for.