John Davidson to watch BAFTA Scotland Awards by video link from “separate relaxed space”
John Davidson at the 2026 BAFTAs (Getty Images)
BAFTA has confirmed Tourette syndrome campaigner John Davidson will attend the BAFTA Scotland Awards by watching the ceremony via video link from a “separate relaxed space” inside the venue, following February’s on-air slur controversy.
The ceremony is due to take place on 15 November in Glasgow, and comes as the Davidson-inspired film I Swear has picked up seven BAFTA Scotland nominations.
In a letter to BAFTA members, CEO Jane Millichip and Chair Sara Putt wrote: “Following those conversations and our wider risk assessment, we have made adjustments to enable John to attend in the way he has suggested to us, which is to watch the ceremony via video link from a separate relaxed space within the venue together with his family and friends,”
Why is BAFTA changing its plans for the Scotland Awards?
The changes follow the BAFTA Film Awards on 22 February 2026, when Davidson involuntarily shouted the N-word while Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage presenting the first award.
Millichip and Putt wrote that Davidson has Tourette Syndrome and experiences coprolalia, “a type of vocal tic involving the involuntary expression of socially inappropriate words or phrases”. They added that such vocalisations are neurological in origin, occur outside the individual’s control, and do not reflect a person’s views, beliefs, character or intentions.
The letter said BAFTA consulted organisations including Tourettes Action and Tourette Scotland, and spoke directly to Davidson, before finalising the arrangements.
It also acknowledged the impact on other guests, stating: “At the same time, we know that involuntary vocal tics involving words relating to race, religion, sexuality or other protected characteristics can cause distress and harm to others, and it is BAFTA’s responsibility to plan for and mitigate any such impact on our guests.”
What does this mean for John Davidson and I Swear?
Davidson is a UK-based disability campaigner who has pushed for better understanding of Tourette syndrome and the stigma that can follow people with visible or audible tics, particularly in high-pressure public settings.
The updated plan arrives as I Swear continues its awards run, with the film’s seven BAFTA Scotland nominations considered the most in the awards’ history, according to Variety.
In February, Davidson said the BBC edited out a homophobic slur he involuntarily shouted after Alan Cumming made a joke referencing Peruvian bears, while another offensive outburst aired in error, prompting backlash and an apology from the broadcaster, as previously reported.
