Who Is John Davidson? All About the Tourette’s Activist Who Inspired ‘I Swear’

Davidson is a Scottish campaigner for Tourette syndrome. He made headlines at the 2026 BAFTAs for racial outbursts.

Alan Cummings addresses tic outburst from John Davidson during BAFTA awards

At the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards, Tourette's syndrome activist John Davidson experienced a tic outburst and used expletives and a racial slur.

‘I Swear’ Subject John Davidson Says Tourette’s Tics Are ‘Involuntary’ After Shouting N-Word at BAFTAs: ‘Deeply Mortified if Anyone’ Thinks It Was ‘Intentional’

Tourette’s activist John Davidson, who inadvertently shouted the N-word at the BAFTAs, has released a statement.
PRIMETIMER

Who is John Davidson and what did he say? Coprolalia meaning explained as call for public apology erupts in wake of BAFTAs N-word controversy

Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage to present the award for Best Visual Effects to Avatar: Fire and Ash when Davidson’s voice rang out in the Royal Festival Hall in London’s Southbank Centre,

Everything you need to know about the Bafta-winning film I Swear

The biopic, starring Robert Aramayo, tells the story of Scottish campaigner for Tourette Syndrome John Davidson, who developed the condition at 12.