Strip it back and it is simple. A disabled man is being piled on by Hollywood, and they are dressing it up as humour.
John is a better human being than any of these Hollywood luvvies taking cheap shots from a stage ever will be. He lives with a condition most of them would crumble under, yet still shows up with more dignity and strength than the lot of them.
“a classic case of something that could be very negative becoming very positive.”
John Davidson has described it as the worst three days of his life.
Considering the life John has had, the battles he has fought, the abuse he has endured, that is a shot to the heart.
We love you Johnny.
Delroy Lindo called it “a classic case of something that could be very negative becoming very positive.”
For families living with Tourette’s, this past week has not felt positive.
Since the BAFTAs and what happened with John Davidson, I have been arguing that my son deserves to leave his home and be included in society like everyone else.
I have had to explain, again and again, that Tourette’s is neurological.
That tics are involuntary.
That coprolalia is not belief, not intent, not character.
Yet the conversation keeps circling back to whether people like John, and by extension my son, should simply stay home to avoid offending anyone.
Stay home.
Remove yourself.
Do not attend events.
Do not exist publicly in case your disability makes someone uncomfortable.
That is the reality this week.
This is not abstract for me. My son already navigates anxiety and the constant fear of being misunderstood. Inclusion cannot mean only if your disability is convenient. It cannot mean you are welcome as long as you do not embarrass us.
My son deserves to leave the house.
He deserves to attend events.
He deserves to exist in public.
And I am exhausted from having to argue that basic truth.
There is a bit missing in the clip. John was returning from an interview for a job, which he thought went really badly, that was when first met that girl. He got home, was told he had actually got the job, a moment of sheer joy, his first adult job. He was sent out to get a “Chinese feast”, on his way back he was beaten to a pulp, waking in a hospital bed.
Why is this so relevant? The BAFTAs, just like gaining that job, should have been a moment of huge joy, instead his moment has been ruined by feckless ignorant idiots who care more for themselves than they do him!
It seems now we have transitioned from,
- Outrage and emotional upset being voiced about a word that was said, upset which was totally valid, but sustained by a lack of understanding about Tourettes.
To,
- Outrage and hate being spread purely for content farming, likes and monetary gain through the success of said posts.
It's very hard to watch as someone with Tourettes and it now worried me more for the future of how the condition will be perceived.
Is every conversation I have for the next several years about my condition going to to start with a reply of "So like that time from the BAFTAs".
Please let's not let that become the outcome of this and let it be genuine better education on what Tourettes is.
My thoughts are with John Davidson today, Tourettes sufferer and campaigner. He's worked hard to raise awareness of a condition that makes people shout horrible things.
It happened to him last night. At the BAFTA's.
And he's actually being condemned as a racist.
By idiots.
I try to keep my personal business off of this site, but the people attacking Tourette’s need to get a life. My daughter has Tourette’s. She doesn’t have the calling out vocal tics, which only happens to a small population of people with Tourette’s in the first place.
She does have the loud grunting And moans that are uncontrollable that just happens. I’ll be damned if I’m gonna lock her in the house and tell her she can’t go out and live her life because she can’t control it. That’s what you’re asking of this man during the award ceremony. It’s an unfortunate thing that happened, but it’s not controllable for people with Tourette’s.
Even the ones that don’t have the vocal stims they have no control over what they do.
Do some research before you sit here trying to cancel this man.
BAFTA’s host Alan Cumming asks for “understanding” after man with Tourette’s yelled the N-Word at black actors presenting an award.
Tourette’s activist John Davidson shouted the N-Word, ‘F**k you’, ‘hey’ and ‘shut the f**k up’ during the awards ceremony.
The awards host later thanked the audience for helping create a “respectful space.”
“Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone.”
Source: Variety
"Those with Tourette's need support and understanding."
Tears of joy as Robert Aramayo sweeps Rising Star & Leading Actor BAFTAs for I Swear #BAFTAFilmAwards
I can still remember just like it was yesterday, sitting in the living room watching my first episode of Lovey World, the episode was Stampy's Wolf Pack [109]. Who knew that it would cause an obsession for years to come. I even dressed up as Stampy for Halloween when I was 10 😂
Words can't describe how I feel right now. I just want to go back 10 years in time to watch @stampylongnose for the first time again. Stampy's Lovely World was 20 minuets of pure magic two times a week.