Disability Campaigners UNITE!

The fallout over Tourette syndrome (TS) activist John Davidson’s outbursts at the Baftas on Sunday continued after Jamie Foxx and Wendell Pierce expressed their dismay at the incident. Davidson attended the Baftas as I Swear, the film inspired by his life of dealing with hostility triggered by TS, was up for a number of awards. He was heard several times shouting during the ceremony, including using the N-word while actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan were on stage presenting the evening’s first prize.

A word they expect us to believe they've never heard in rap music or used themselves?

Foxx commented below a post about the incident on social media, saying, “Unacceptable” and “Nah he meant that shit”. Journalist Jemele Hill said on social media: “Black people are just supposed to be ok with being disrespected and dehumanised so that other people don’t feel bad”, and actor Wendell Pierce said: “It’s infuriating that the first reaction wasn’t complete and full throatted [sic] apologies to Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan. The insult to them takes priority. It doesn’t matter the reasoning for the racist slur.”

The black activists are going to be frothing about this for years to come, because they cannot stand the fact the Disability Card trumps the Race Card in this instance. 

Baftas host Alan Cumming made two announcements during the ceremony explaining the situation, saying: “Tourette syndrome is a disability, and the tics you’ve heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette syndrome has no control over their language. We apologise if you are offended tonight.”

It wasn't enough. It will never be enough.