‘I Swear’ Subject John Davidson Says Tourette’s Tics Are ‘Involuntary’ After Shouting N-Word at BAFTAs: ‘Deeply Mortified if Anyone’ Thinks It Was ‘Intentional’

Tourette’s activist John Davidson, who inadvertently shouted the N-word during the BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday night, has released a statement after widespread backlash.

Davidson, who first began experiencing tics at the age of 12, made a number of outbursts during the first half of the ceremony, including shouting “shut the fuck up” during BAFTA chair Sara Putt’s opening remarks. When Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo took to the stage to present the best visual effects award to “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” he was also heard shouting the N-word.

“I wanted to thank BAFTA and everyone involved in the awards last night for their support and understanding and inviting me to attend the broadcast,” Davidson said in a statement. “I appreciated the announcement to the auditorium in advance of the recording, warning everyone that my tics are involuntary and are not a reflection of my personal beliefs. I…