‘I Swear’ Actor Addresses Tourette’s Incident at BAFTAs: ‘Whole Point’
An actor from the BAFTA-nominated film I Swear has spoken out after a moment at the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards involving Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson stoked debate online.
In a TikTok video shared by azawa.app, Thierry Mabonga—who said he played John Davidson’s lawyer in the film—defended Davidson’s presence at the ceremony after the activist experienced vocal tics during the BBC broadcast.
“I’m one of the actors in I Swear. I played John Davidson’s lawyer. And if you’ve seen the film, you know what I’m talking about,” he said.
Referring to a courtroom scene in which his character is subjected to offensive language, the actor added: “John cannot control what he says. In fact, that’s the whole point of why we’re making this film.”
Mabonga continued: “We’ve made this film, I Swear, is to educate people about Tourette’s syndrome. And how can you say that he can’t be there at the awards?
“This is a film about his life. This is a film about him. Absolutely. He has to be there.”
The actor’s remarks were shared to Reddit where contributors debated how the BBC and organizers handled the moment amid 1,300 comments in two days.
The controversy stems from an incident during the BAFTAs ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall.
Davidson, an invited guest and the real-life inspiration behind I Swear, experienced multiple vocal tics during the evening including shouted expletives and a racial slur during a presentation by actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo, as reported by Newsweek.
The BBC later apologized and removed the entire show from its streaming platform.
‘No control’
BAFTAs host Alan Cumming addressed the audience during the ceremony, saying: “Tourette’s syndrome is a disability and the tics you’ve heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette’s syndrome has no control over their language.
“We apologize if you are offended tonight.”
In a statement reported by The Guardian, Davidson said he was, “deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning,” adding: “I chose to leave the auditorium early into the ceremony as I was aware of the distress my tics were causing.”
On Reddit, reactions reflected a range of views.
“I’m sharing this as a black woman who has a son with Tourette’s,” a contributor began.
“I want people to watch I Swear (2025) so we can better understand John Davidson’s disorder. We shouldn’t minimize the pain caused when slurs are used, but it’s important to know that some people with Tourette’s have coprolalia, which makes them involuntarily say taboo or offensive words.”
‘Awkward crossroads’
Another commentator insisted: “Too many people still think that if a person with coprolalia says an offensive term, it’s what they really think and mean. When this is so not the case!
“If they had never heard the word in question, they’d say another equally offensive word.”
A fellow commenter reasoned: “Look, this is an awkward crossroads. We can make room for John Davidson, but also have compassion for the presenters who were put in a very vulnerable position.”
Mabonga also questioned whether those attending the ceremony had been adequately briefed.
“Hopefully they would have been told, therefore prepared for that kind of stuff that happened,” the actor continued.
“Regardless, John has Tourette’s. Enough said.”
The debate has continued online as viewers weigh the balance between accommodating a neurological condition and addressing the harm caused by offensive language broadcast on a major awards show.
Newsweek has reached out to Thierry Mabonga for comment via TikTok.
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