BAFTA Offered An Apology For Unmuted Tourette’s Activist Racial Outburst, But Many Are Not Buying It [VIDEO]

For those who thought awards shows were boring especially if their black tie, we are here to tell you the drama goes on there too. The British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) issued an apology following Tourette Syndrome activist John Davidson was heard shouting the N-word during Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo’s presentation. However some aren’t buying the apology and some want answers to way the outburst weren’t muted however they able to mute “Free Palestine,” said by outstanding British debut winner Akinola Davies Jr.

Tourette syndrome is a nervous system disorder characterized by involuntary, repetitive motor and vocal tics, such as blinking, shrugging, or grunting.   Tics often worsen with stress, anxiety, or fatigue and can decrease during focused activities.

“We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation and we apologize to all. We will learn from this, and keep inclusion at the core of all we do, maintaining our belief in film and storytelling as a critical conduit for compassion and empathy.”

 
In a statement John Davidson said he was “deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning”. He added: “I have spent my life trying to support and empower the Tourette’s community and to teach empathy, kindness and understanding from others and I will continue to do so. I chose to leave the auditorium early into the ceremony as I was aware of the distress my tics were causing.”

BAFTA Awards host Alan Cumming cited John Davidson’s Tourette Syndrome as the reason he shouted the N-word but Jamie Foxx as well as others are not buying it.  Under an Instagram post discussing the controversial moment, Foxx wrote, “Nah he meant that s**t.”  Journalist Jemele Hill said on social media: “Black people are just supposed to be ok with being disrespected and dehumanised so that other people don’t feel bad”, and actor Wendell Pierce said: “It’s infuriating that the first reaction wasn’t complete and full throatted [sic] apologies to Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan. The insult to them takes priority. It doesn’t matter the reasoning for the racist slur.”

According to Deadline, the studio raised immediate concerns after the n-word was audibly shouted at its Sinners stars during Sunday night’s BAFTA Film Awards, requesting that the moment be cut from the BBC’s two-hour delayed broadcast. Warner Bros. executives reportedly complained “within minutes” of the outburst.  A source told the outlet that the studio was assured its concerns would be passed to the BBC and producer Penny Lane TV, challenging claims that producers in the gallery were unaware of the incident until it was too late.

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