Sony Executives 'Mortified' After Bafta Outburst by Tourette's Advocate John Davidson

Sony Pictures executives are said to be in a state of panic following a controversial incident at the 79th Bafta Film Awards in London. John Davidson, a 54-year-old Tourette's syndrome campaigner and executive producer of the biographical drama I Swear, made headlines for shouting racial slurs during the ceremony, leaving Sony bosses deeply concerned ahead of the film's upcoming US release.

Incident at the Bafta Ceremony

During the awards show, hosted by Alan Cumming, Davidson was heard yelling the N-word when actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo took the stage to present an award. This moment was not edited out of the BBC's broadcast, which was not live, sparking widespread online discussion and condemnation from figures like Wendell Pierce and Jamie Foxx, who called it 'unacceptable'.

An industry source revealed to Metro: 'Sony Pictures bosses were at the Baftas last night and looked mortified after John's racial outburst. They only just bought the rights to distribute the movie outside of the UK, so the entire industry knows that they will be in panic mode.'

Davidson's Tourette's Syndrome and Symptoms

John Davidson was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome at age 25 and has since become an ambassador for the neurological disorder. His condition involves a range of symptoms, including:

Tics – sudden and repetitive motor movements or vocalisations
Coprolalia – affecting about one in 10 people with Tourette's, this involves involuntarily blurting out obscenities or socially inappropriate words
Echolalia – repetition of other people's words or phrases
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) – intrusive thoughts relieved by compulsive behaviors

Despite the audience being informed ahead of time that Davidson was present and might make involuntary noises, the explicit nature of the outbursts, including shouting 'shut the f**k up' during a speech and 'f**k you' at other moments, caught many off guard.

Impact on Sony and 'I Swear' Release

Sony Pictures announced in October last year that they had purchased the distribution rights for I Swear outside the UK. The film, directed by Kirk Jones, won best casting and leading actor for Robert Aramayo at the Baftas. Aramayo, 33, plays Davidson in the biopic, which depicts his struggles growing up in 1980s Scotland.

A TV expert commented: 'This couldn't have happened at a worse time because I Swear is supposed to come out in the US in a few weeks. The news has already travelled to the US via African-American-led blogs, and people are already talking about a boycott.'

Reactions and Apologies

The BBC issued an apology after the ceremony, stating: 'Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the Bafta Film Awards 2026. This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome and was not intentional. We apologise for any offence caused by the language heard.'

Host Alan Cumming also apologized to the audience, thanking them for their 'understanding' and 'respect'. Davidson himself has not yet addressed the outbursts, and it is reported that he left the ceremony midway through.

Star Robert Aramayo's Perspective

Robert Aramayo, who won the EE rising star award and best actor for his role, praised Davidson and highlighted the importance of the film. In the winners' press room, he said: 'I'm just really happy that I Swear has shone a spotlight on something that is really, really misunderstood. I think that there's still a lot more education needed around Tourette's and what it actually is and how we all, as a society, can help.'

He added that working on the project showed him how 'complicated' Tourette's is and that it 'requires us to have grace'.

Background on 'I Swear' and Davidson's Role

I Swear is based on the real story of John Davidson, starring Robert Aramayo alongside Maxine Peake. Sony Pictures Classics has hailed the film as 'one of those extraordinary, one-of-a-kind, true-to-life movies', describing it as 'emotionally engaging, funny, and compelling'.

Ahead of the awards, Davidson expressed pride in the film, telling the Press Association: 'We didn't want it to be a pity memoir, and that you feel sorry for us, because we don't want people feeling sorry for me. Everyone with Tourette's don't – they just want the awareness of people to understand and be kind.'

Sony Pictures has been contacted for comment but has not yet responded publicly to the incident.