[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Seems like a lot of American media and social media are really going in on John Davidson and running with the narrative that he is racist and using the Tourettes as an excuse.

Didn't see this sorry Niamh.

A lot of American media and social media commentary seems to be heavily criticising John Davidson and framing him as racist. I understand why people feel strongly about it, but the situation is far more complex than that narrative suggests.

This incident brings together several difficult elements at once: a word with enormous historical weight, two Black actors caught off guard on stage, and a man with Tourette’s syndrome who had no control over what he said. After the outburst, he removed himself from the proceedings, which was the responsible step to take. None of these factors cancels out the others.

What I’d like people to appreciate is both the nature of Tourette’s syndrome and the historical context of the n‑word, including its ties to slavery and Jim Crow. What we’re seeing here is the collision of two very different realities and sensitivities. In that sense, no individual is “at fault” — the only real lapse may lie with the BBC and BAFTA for allowing circumstances where this could happen.

Because there isn’t a single person to blame, the reaction has intensified. People often want a clear target for their anger. The most constructive outcome, though, would be for everyone to try to understand each other’s perspectives rather than condemn those who reacted in the moment.