Robert Aramayo spoke up for John Davidson after an involuntary outburst at the BAFTAs, urging compassion and raising questions about how events handle disability-related behaviour
John Davidson’s involuntary outburst at the BAFTAs has sparked a heated conversation about Tourette’s, inclusion and how live television should handle sudden medical episodes on stage.
Early in the ceremony the mood shifted. Davidson — the campaigner whose life inspired the film I Swear — began emitting a sequence of uncontrollable vocalisations, one of which was a racial slur.
Medical observers said the sounds were consistent with severe Tourette’s syndrome. Presenters, audience members and production staff reacted visibly as the show paused and people on site scrambled to manage the scene.
Robert Aramayo, who portrays Davidson in I Swear and accepted the Best Actor award, publicly defended him.
Aramayo described the incident as a neurological symptom and called for education, compassion and measured institutional responses rather than immediate condemnation. His stance has pushed the debate beyond spectacle to questions of context, responsibility and empathy.
Onstage, Alan Cumming twice stopped proceedings to explain that Davidson’s noises could be involuntary tics linked to Tourette’s and to ask for understanding from viewers.
Davidson left the auditorium and watched the remainder of the ceremony remotely; organisers said he had been offered support.
Broadcasters and organisers have since pledged reviews of how such incidents are handled in both live broadcasts and edited streams. The BBC initially left the ceremony on its on-demand platform but later removed the programme from iPlayer to edit out the offensive language, apologising for not doing so sooner. BAFTA apologised to those hurt by the word uttered during the ceremony, expressed regret for the distress caused to presenters and attendees, and reiterated its commitment to inclusion.
Disability groups urged clearer guidance for live events and broader public education about neurodivergent conditions, arguing that the immediate response should be care and context rather than punishment. Broadcasters said they will consult disability organisations and legal advisers to update policies that balance protecting viewers with respecting the rights and wellbeing of participants.
Voices across the film community expressed mixed emotions. Many urged compassion and better public understanding of Tourette’s, stressing that involuntary tics are not expressions of intent. Others highlighted the real harm done when a racial slur is broadcast in a celebratory, public forum — a harm that simple apologies and explanations cannot erase.
What this episode has exposed is a difficult balancing act: how to represent disability authentically and sensitively, how to shield audiences from offensive content, and how institutions should prepare for unpredictable moments without stigmatizing the people at their centre. The BAFTAs incident will likely shape policy and public conversation about live television, disability and the ethics of editing for years to come.
