Tourette Syndrome: the BAFTAs incident and what it teaches us
If you only ever hear about Tourette Syndrome when it’s in the headlines, it can be hard to separate fact from stereotype.
That’s why the recent BAFTAs controversy landed so strongly. During the ceremony, Tourette Syndrome campaigner John Davidson shouted out several times. In one moment he used a racial slur while actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan were presenting an award. The host later explained it was linked to Davidson’s Tourette Syndrome, and the BBC faced criticism for not editing the slur out before broadcast (despite a delay), later removing the programme for editing.
This situation brought up an uncomfortable but important reality: the impact of racist language is real, and at the same time tics are involuntary. Both matter, and understanding Tourette Syndrome properly helps people respond with more Care, less stigma, and fewer assumptions.
What is Tourette Syndrome?
Tourette Syndrome is a neurological condition where the main feature is tics. These are sudden, repetitive movements and/or sounds that someone does not choose to make and cannot fully control.
Tourette Syndrome often begins in childhood and can change over time. For some people, tics are mild and manageable. For others, they can be frequent, exhausting, painful, or socially difficult, largely because of how people react to them.
What are tics?
A tic can be a movement (motor tic) or a sound/word (vocal tic). It may look like:
· Blinking
· A shoulder movement
· A head jerk
· Throat clearing
· Sniffing
· Clicking
· Or repeating a word or phrase
Something many people don’t realise is that tics aren’t always completely “random”. Some people feel a build-up sensation before a tic happens, like pressure that needs releasing. And while some people can suppress tics briefly, doing so can take a lot of energy. In some cases, suppression can lead to a rebound where tics become stronger later.
That’s why environments matter. High-pressure moments, being watched, feeling judged, fatigue, or stress can all make tics harder to manage because the nervous system is under strain.
Does Tourette’s usually involve swearing?
No, and this is one of the biggest myths.
Swearing tics are known as coprolalia, and most people with Tourette Syndrome do not experience it. The NHS also notes swearing can happen but is rare, and Tourette’s Action estimates coprolalia affects a minority of people with TS (they cite approximately 10–30%).
Most vocal tics are far more likely to be things like throat clearing, sniffing, humming, clicking, or repeating neutral words.
Researchers don’t fully know why coprolalia happens for some people. One idea raised by specialists is that “taboo” words can become especially sticky in the brain and when someone already has difficulty suppressing verbal output, those words can surface involuntarily as tics.
So how should we understand what happened at the BAFTAs?
It helps to separate two different questions:
1) Was the tic intentional?
Tics are involuntary. They aren’t a person’s beliefs, intentions, or values.
2) Did the moment still cause harm?
Yes. Hearing a racial slur is harmful, regardless of the reason it was said, and the people affected deserve acknowledgement, care, and apology.
We should not be “picking a side”. It’s about responding like adults: taking harm seriously and taking disability and neurodevelopmental conditions seriously.
Can Tourette Syndrome be treated?
There isn’t one single solution that works for everyone, but there are approaches that can help some people:
· Behavioural therapies can reduce tic severity and frequency for some people, but they take practice and specialist support.
· Medication can help some people too, though effects and side effects vary.
What’s often overlooked is that support isn’t only clinical. Understanding, reasonable adjustments, and reduced stigma can make a huge difference to daily life — sometimes more than people expect.
What to do if you’re unsure how to respond to Tourette’s in real life
If you’re a member of the public, a colleague, a manager, or someone supporting a friend or family member, the simplest approach is usually best:
Stay calm, don’t draw attention to it, and don’t demand control. If you need to address an incident (for example if an offensive word was heard), focus on supporting anyone affected, while remembering the tic itself wasn’t a chosen act.
Understanding is what stops situations escalating.
Want to learn more (or support others better)?
For individuals and organisations seeking a confident, informed understanding of Tourette Syndrome and tic disorders, our Tourette Syndrome course offers a rigorous, evidence-led foundation.
It builds awareness of tics and related tic disorders, including the important links between Tourette Syndrome and Mental Health, and is suitable for personal learning, workplace awareness, or supporting someone close to you.
View the course here or call us on 01772 816922.
Quick FAQs
Is Tourette Syndrome just swearing?
No. Coprolalia is a minority experience; most tics aren’t offensive.
Are tics done on purpose?
No, tics are involuntary, although some people can briefly suppress them at a cost.
What are common vocal tics?
Throat clearing, sniffing, clicking, humming, repeating neutral words or phrases.