BAFTA Awards host Alan Cumming apologized to the audience following several verbal outbursts from Tourette syndrome activist John Davidson<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Davidson yelled several expletives and a racial slur during the ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 22, per Variety<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Cumming additionally thanked the audience for their understanding after the incidents<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Alan Cumming<\/a>, who hosted the 2026 BAFTA Awards<\/a>, thanked the audience for their understanding after Tourette syndrome advocate John Davidson yelled expletives and a racial slur during the show.<\/p>\n Davidson first began experiencing symptoms of Tourette syndrome<\/a> (also called Tourette\u2019s syndrome), which causes involuntary verbal and physical tics, at the age of 12. He was at the awards ceremony in London on Sunday, Feb. 22, to help represent the BAFTA-nominated film I Swear, which is a movie based on his life and experiences with the condition.<\/p>\n The event\u2019s stage manager introduced Davidson, 54, to the audience prior to the show and alerted attendees that they might hear some \u201cinvoluntary noises or movements\u201d during the ceremony, per Variety<\/a>.<\/p>\n Anthony Harvey\/Shutterstock <\/p>\n At one point during the ceremony, Davidson could be heard yelling, \u201cShut the f-ck up,\u201d during a speech from BAFTA chair Sara Putt, as well as \u201cf-ck you\u201d when the directors of the winner for Best Children\u2019s and Family Film accepted their award.<\/p>\n Davidson also shouted a racial slur as actors Michael B. Jordan<\/a> and Delroy Lindo<\/a> presented the award for Best Visual Effects, per Variety.<\/p>\n Cumming, 61, took to the stage and addressed the audience following the incidents, noting that the film Davidson was there to represent that evening addressed the type of involuntary outbursts that audience members heard.<\/p>\n Karwai Tang\/WireImage<\/p>\n \u201cYou may have noticed some strong language in the background,\u201d Cumming said, per Variety. \u201cThis can be part of how Tourette\u2019s syndrome shows up for some people, as the film explores that experience. Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n Cumming addressed the audience again later in the evening, this time apologizing to anyone<\/a> who may have been offended by Davidson\u2019s words.<\/p>\n \u201cTourette\u2019s syndrome is a disability, and the tics you\u2019ve heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette\u2019s syndrome has no control over their language. We apologize if you are offended tonight,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Representatives for BAFTA and Alan Cumming did not immediately respond to PEOPLE\u2019s request for comment.<\/p>\n Davidson appeared to have left the audience during the second half of the show, per Variety.<\/p>\n Actor Robert Aramayo, who plays a young version of Davidson in I Swear, won the BAFTA for Best Actor<\/a>, as well as the award for BAFTAs EE Rising Star.<\/p>\n During his acceptance speech for the latter award, he praised Davidson and called for greater understanding of his condition.<\/p>\n![\"Alan](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4b4fe231eb39c4319a43a035b71ca46d.jpeg\"\/)
Alan Cumming at the 2026 BAFTAs in London on Feb. 22 <\/p>\n![\"John](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/07baf746c0aac96b13cc44bb77e62e4f.jpeg\"\/)
John Davidson and actor Robert Aramayo at the 2026 BAFTAs in London on Feb. 22 <\/p>\n