{"id":627218,"date":"2026-03-02T16:43:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T16:43:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/627218\/"},"modified":"2026-03-02T16:43:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T16:43:10","slug":"snls-bafta-racial-slur-sketch-criticized-by-tourettes-charity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/627218\/","title":{"rendered":"‘SNL’s BAFTA Racial Slur Sketch Criticized By Tourette\u2019s Charity"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tEXCLUSIVE<\/strong>: Saturday Night Live<\/a>\u2018s send-up of the BAFTA<\/a> racial slur incident has proved to be no laughing matter for a leading Tourette\u2019s syndrome charity.<\/p>\n

\n\tIn a statement shared with Deadline, Tourettes Action, which has supported campaigner John Davidson<\/a> and the film I Swear<\/a> since its release last year, decried SNL<\/a>\u2018s intervention.<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\tIn the PSA-style skit titled \u2018Tourette\u2019s,\u2019 a host of celebrities, including J.K. Rowling, Mel Gibson, Armie Hammer, Louis C.K., and Bill Cosby claim they suffer from Tourette\u2019s, which would explain problematic comments or actions they have been involved in.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI\u2019m Mel Gibson, and as I probably should have pointed out decades ago, I too, suffer from Tourette\u2019s, which explains a lot of the things I\u2019ve said or yelled through the years,\u201d said the Braveheart star, portrayed by Andrew Dismukes.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe sketch followed Davidson, who has dedicated his life to supporting others with Tourette syndrome, involuntarily shouting the N-word at Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo at the BAFTA Film Awards<\/a> last month.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\n\tTourettes Action CEO Emma McNally was unambiguous in her thoughts on SNL, turning on capslock in her email to Deadline: \u201cTHIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tShe continued: \u201cMocking a disability is never acceptable. It would not be tolerated for any other condition, and it should not be tolerated by people with Tourette\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cTourette\u2019s is a complex neurological condition, of which there is no cure. It is not a joke. It is not a personality trait. It is not a source of entertainment. It is a condition that can be extremely debilitating, causing pain isolation and huge amounts of discrimination.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cVideos and posts that deliberately misrepresent or sensationalise tics set us back years. A single video can undo the progress our community has spent years building toward greater awareness.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tMcNally continued: \u201cThe trolling and harassment members of our community have endured in the past few days has been horrific. People have been targeted with threats and humiliation simply for having a condition they did not choose. No one should ever be treated that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tA\u00a0Saturday Night Live\u00a0spokesperson has been approached for comment. McNally\u2019s full statement is below, but she was not alone in criticizing the video.<\/p>\n

\n\tAl Murray, a British comedian and Spitting Image writer, said it was \u201cdisgusting.\u201d<\/a> He added: \u201cThe problem with the \u2018punch up punch down\u2019 thing is what if you\u2019re upside down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tJames Dreyfus, who plays Lord Gormon Massey in HBO\u2019s House of the Dragon, said<\/a>: \u201cGood grief. Only goes to show that \u2018regime comedians\u2019 are as desperately unamusing, cringeworthy, pig- ignorant & prejudiced as they are over here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tNAACP Image Awards host Deon Cole has also been slammed for his joke about Davidson over the weekend. Leading the NAACP audience in mock prayer, he said: \u201cIf there are any white men out here in the audience, Lord, with Tourette\u2019s. I advise you to tell them they\u2019d better read the room tonight, Lord \u2026 Whatever medicine they on, they better double up on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Hollywood continuing to mock John Davidson over his Tourette\u2019s condition is one of the most despicable things I\u2019ve witnessed in a long time.
Shame on @deoncole<\/a> and all those in the audience who laughed at his vile \u2018jokes\u2019. What the f*ck is wrong with you???!!! https:\/\/t.co\/8E8k1zl3Q2<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 2, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n\tSharing the clip, Piers Morgan said: \u201cHollywood continuing to mock John Davidson over his Tourette\u2019s condition is one of the most despicable things I\u2019ve witnessed in a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tOver the weekend, Davidson thanked the Tourette\u2019s community for its support. \u201cWhilst I will never apologies [sic] for having Tourette syndrome, I will apologise for any pain, upset and misunderstanding that it may create,\u201d he wrote on Facebook<\/a>. \u201cThis past week has been tough, and has reminded me that what I do raising awareness for such a misunderstood condition, there is still a long way to go and I will keep on keeping on until this is achieved.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Tourettes Action CEO Emma McNally\u2019s Full \u2018SNL\u2019 Statement:<\/p>\n

Over recent weeks, our community has faced an unprecedented wave of online trolling, misinformation, and targeted mockery. Following the extremely difficult events surrounding the BAFTAs, many people with Tourette\u2019s have been struggling with fear, shame, isolation and a HUGE need to defend a condition they cannot control.
\u00a0
We had hoped this would be a new week and we could move on but the release of further content online that has been designed to ridicule Tourette\u2019s and reduce our community to a punchline has only deepened that hurt.
\u00a0
I want to be completely clear here THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
\u00a0
Mocking a disability is never acceptable. It would not be tolerated for any other condition, and it should not be tolerated by people with Tourette\u2019s.
\u00a0
Tourette\u2019s is a complex neurological condition, of which there is no cure.\u00a0 It is not a joke. It is not a personality trait. It is not a source of entertainment. It is a condition that can be extremely debilitating, causing pain isolation and huge amounts of discrimination.
\u00a0
Videos and posts that deliberately misrepresent or sensationalise tics set us back years. A single video can undo the progress our community has spent years building toward greater awareness. I hope those creating these videos understand that they create real consequences for people in our community: fear, isolation, bullying, abuse, and a feeling among many that they must hide away to stay safe.
\u00a0
The trolling and harassment members of our community have endured in the past few days has been horrific. People have been targeted with threats and humiliation simply for having a condition they did not choose. No one should ever be treated that way.<\/p>\n

These recent events have been painful for multiple communities, and I am not for one minute dismissing that hurt, but directing anger and ridicule to people with Tourette\u2019s does nothing to heal that pain and does not move us forward.
\u00a0
What we need right now is people to be kind.\u00a0 We need compassion, accurate information and above all, we need education.
\u00a0
I am asking everyone, content creators, viewers, the media, and the wider public, to please consider the impact of what they say and what they share. Behind every tic is a person. A family. A life. A long standing history of being misunderstood.
\u00a0
I was always brought up with the motto that if you have nothing nice to say, then say nothing and to always, always be kind.
\u00a0
To those in the Tourette\u2019s community:<\/p>\n

Please know you are not alone. We are here for you.\u00a0 I know times now are causing extreme pain but please don\u2019t feel like you need to hide away. Reach out to us for support.
\u00a0
To the wider public who want to support:
\u00a0
Please share our educational content, help us dispel the myths and help our community get one step closer to acceptance.
\u00a0
We will continue advocating, educating, and standing together as a community. #TogetherWeAreStronger<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n