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[DeafTourette]

I have a question for my UK friends on here.

The BAFTAS aired recently and one of the winners has Tourette Syndrome. When he, or more accurately the filmmaker, won he let out a string of "N-words" while Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage presenting the award for best documentary.

There's been a lot of discussion about Tourette Syndrome... Some truly uninformed takes and some more knowledgeable ones as well. But I feel the BBC is at fault here.

The BAFTAS are taped to prevent swearing and political speech... They edited out one winner's "Free Palestine" speech... But left in the N-word. The looks on the presenters' faces, you could tell they were offended but kept a stiff upper lip. Alan Cummings (host) attempted to explain to everyone in attendance...

The BBC could have avoided all this controversy by applying their editing evenly instead of haphazardly, so to speak.

 

[lmimmfn]

What a game!!!

 

[tkminus]

It is very simple. Who ever edited out, wanted this to happen. You can't make a mistake like that, when the word is called out. It caused a stir, which is enough to delete it.

They got what they wanted. A controversy that people will talk about for decade.

 

[The Cockatrice]

will talk about for decade

People already forgot about it.

 

[calico]

I'm sorry, Senator, I didn't hear a question.

 

[tkminus]

People already forgot about it.

Nope, the record is all that matters. People will bring that up, Just like will smith slap.

 

[Mr Reasonable]

Should have edited it out. I don't think it was malicious not to have done.

I also think people ought to ease off accusing the tourettes campaigner of racism, it's definitely entirely in keeping with his condition. I don't think it's as Jamie Foxx asserts an expression of what an individual really thinks.

Regrettable all around, but we ought to be trying to find ways to help people understand why this is such a painful word for black people and how tourettes isn't a funny condition.

 

[Svalr93]

I'll never understand why Palestine specifically deserves so much attention, there's genocides going on in the world that have been going on for much longer with far more people dying that no one ever talks about.
But people act like this is the most important thing that has ever happened and there's so much social pressure to talk about it.

 

[Avid Reading Horse]

Wait bro... given the Tourette's and being black, I was more interested to hear what you had to say about it. I ain't British and don't give two flying fucks whether some leftist gets their Free Palestine speech cut from some mostly-leftists congratulating each other show. But my understanding on the Tourettes thing is that shouting the N-word a couple of times is completely devoid of meaning... in which case it's arguable that it would be offensive to edit one's ticks out like that, perhaps even discriminatory.

At the same time it's quite difficult for me to not just have more or less the Jamie Foxx take on all this. If that word doesn't "come to mind" upon seeing two black guys then how is it going to be part of the guy's tic or whatever?

 

[DeafTourette]

People already forgot about it.

Not according to my social media feeds

 

[SJRB]

Every time I see celebrity "controversy" like this I think back on how the Romans used to treat actors and how we as a society should go back to doing that.

 

[ContrarianAsshole]

Not to imply the bbc hasn't gone down the thames years ago, but if anyone is wondering why a tv broadcaster would act irresponsibly and spread needles controversy, I think that's a question that kind of answers itself...

 

[Cyberpunkd]

The mentioned at the beginning of the ceremony a guy with Tourette is in attendance, they also interviewed him before the ceremony and he said how large public venue like that can make his tics more severe.

BBC 100% wanted this to happen, although probably not with the N-word.

On the two black dudes giving the award - grow a spine, not everything in 2026 is about your slave ancestors and white guilt. Guy is sick, he said stupid shit, deal with it and move on.

 

[DeafTourette]

Wait bro... given the Tourette's and being black, I was more interested to hear what you had to say about it. I ain't British and don't give two flying fucks whether some leftist gets their Free Palestine speech cut from some mostly-leftists congratulating each other show. But my understanding on the Tourettes thing is that shouting the N-word a couple of times is completely devoid of meaning... in which case it's arguable that it would be offensive to edit one's ticks out like that, perhaps even discriminatory.

At the same time it's quite difficult for me to not just have more or less the Jamie Foxx take on all this. If that word doesn't "come to mind" upon seeing two black guys then how is it going to be part of the guy's tic or whatever?

Some people have said he shouldn't have been there if there was a chance he would say something like that. That's one of the more common takes I've seen on SM.

Anyways, my thoughts on your points:

Jamie Foxx is coming from a place of ignorance about Tourette Syndrome. Think of it like the id... Thoughts come up that you DO NOT like whatsoever but now your id has a voice. Coprolalia, the symptom of TS that has you blurt out socially unacceptable words and phrases, is like if your id has free reign over your voice. Depending on your environment, certain vocal tics or phrases will come up. Like if you're around black people or disabled people.

There's also a corresponding motor tic called copropraxia that consists of socially unacceptable gestures or movements (the finger, grabbing your crotch, slapping someone's butt).

 

[AJUMP23]

Nobody cares about a British awards show. Nobody should care about award shows like these. Editors really failed.

I want to go back to Roman times when actors were considered the Dregs of society.

 

[GnomeChimpsky]

Or maybe everyone could put on their big boy pants and stop being offended by a word that wasn't even uttered intentionally.

I also find it interesting how the left is obsessed with coddling people with every damn disability on the planet except the one that makes you say banned words...

 

[Cyberpunkd]

Some people have said he shouldn't have been there if there was a chance he would say something like that. That's one of the more common takes I've seen on SM.

Slippery slope if I ever saw one. We lock people with Down Syndrome as well because they can say stupid shit? People with autism as well?

 

[Svalr93]

Some people have said he shouldn't have been there if there was a chance he would say something like that. That's one of the more common takes I've seen on SM.

Anyways, my thoughts on your points:

Jamie Foxx is coming from a place of ignorance about Tourette Syndrome. Think of it like the id... Thoughts come up that you DO NOT like whatsoever but now your id has a voice. Coprolalia, the symptom of TS that has you blurt out socially unacceptable words and phrases, is like if your id has free reign over your voice. Depending on your environment, certain vocal tics or phrases will come up. Like if you're around black people or disabled people.

There's also a corresponding motor tic called copropraxia that consists of socially unacceptable gestures or movements (the finger, grabbing your crotch, slapping someone's butt).

By his logic should people with tourettes not go outside because they might say something offensive lol?
Weird to try and make himself into the victim here, it's 500 times more distressing to the person with tourettes it's not like they're unaware of how people view it.

 

[thefool]

Nuclear?

 

[jason10mm]

Nobody cares about a British awards show. Nobody should care about award shows like these. Editors really failed.

Now everyone is talking about the BAFTRAS when NO ONE gave two squirts about it before. Mission Accomplished.

 

[Sybrix]

First of all, who the fuck watches an award show? lol.

I can't imagine a more boring way to spend time.

Secondly, you invite someone with Tourettes to a live show that's recorded and are outranged the when they swear and or use offensive language? Would you be equally annoyed by getting eaten by a great white shark if you swam with it? What did you think would happen?

 

[RJMacready73]

At the same time it's quite difficult for me to not just have more or less the Jamie Foxx take on all this. If that word doesn't "come to mind" upon seeing two black guys then how is it going to be part of the guy's tic or whatever?

That's how a touretts mind works

 

[Chuck Berry]

Or maybe everyone could put on their big boy pants and stop being offended by a word

Could've just stopped right there

 

[Cyberpunkd]

By his logic should people with tourettes not go outside because they might say something offensive lol?
Weird to try and make himself into the victim here, it's 500 times more distressing to the person with tourettes it's not like they're unaware of how people view it.

It's Jamie Foxx, he can't help being an idiot.

 

[John Bilbo]

Every time I see celebrity "controversy" like this I think back on how the Romans used to treat actors and how we as a society should go back to doing that.

Nobody cares about a British awards show. Nobody should care about award shows like these. Editors really failed.

I want to go back to Roman times when actors were considered the Dregs of society.

These events are only 66 years apart: Wright Flyer in 1903 and Apollo 1969

The 20th century was crazy in how humanity accelerated the scientific and technological development and at the same time gave rise to a vapid celebrity worship culture of Hollywood.

 

[Mr Reasonable]

BBC 100% wanted this to happen, although probably not with the N-word.

Terrible take. The guy with tourettes had a film made of his life story which was subsequently nominated for some of the biggest awards of the night. Entirely normal for a the subject of a film like that to be present for awards shows.

What's more this was Bafta's ceremony, they will have arranged the guests, not the BBC.

 

[DKehoe]

I feel bad for Michael B Jordan, Delroy Lindo and John Davidson. It sucks for Jordan and Lindo that happened to them, especially at an event that was celebrating their work and it sucks for Davidson that him working to promote awareness around Tourette has led to a high profile situation like this which could increase the stigma around it. With situations like this there's often a rush to assign blame but there's no malice here. You can't expect people with Tourette's to shut themselves away from the world. It's unfortunate that the BBC didn't edit it out of the broadcast.

I maybe misread your post DeafTourette but what was your question?

 

[DeepEnigma]

The seat placement had to be intentional as well. They would tend to ask what form of Tourettes this person has, etc..

The timing in between crowd cheers and claps in the silence to be heard was rather poetic.

Dude sounded mic'ed up like sports player.

 

[AJUMP23]

Now everyone is talking about the BAFTRAS when NO ONE gave two squirts about it before. Mission Accomplished.

It is just something for the news grinder. The actors involved will probably talk about how deeply hurt they were in the future but it is nothing.

 

[poppabk]

I bet the guy with the bleep button was conflicted about whether to edit a guy with Tourettes and presumably had a short amount of time to decide.
In a position of conflict like that inaction will nearly always win out.

 

[YCoCg]

I bet the guy with the bleep button was conflicted about whether to edit a guy with Tourettes and presumably had a short amount of time to decide.
In a position of conflict like that inaction will nearly always win out.

The excuse the BBC gave was "we didn't hear it"

 

[AJUMP23]

People have given this word such power. It would mean nothing if people never reacted or responded to it. Like most profane speech has become so commonplace in this world people no longer react to it. Saying the "F" word use to mean something. Now it is nothing, no one cares. Using such racial epitaphs towards individuals is a reflection on the user. The "N" word is the last word that has any power over a whole population of people. It would be better if all speech was elevated to level of common decency and respect for others but we have chosen or allowed as people our language to be debased. We must live with what we create.

 

[Unknown?]

These events are only 66 years apart: Wright Flyer in 1903 and Apollo 1969

The 20th century was crazy in how humanity accelerated the scientific and technological development and at the same time gave rise to a vapid celebrity worship culture of Hollywood.

Both were staged...


/s

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Hahaha.

But how BAFTA going to edit that out? It was right in the middle of the actor's talking. For any political rants, it's a celeb doing a segment so it can be edited out entirely.

Even better, Jamie Foxx jumped on the bandwagon and called the Tourette's guy racist for saying it. But in an old clip, he priased Quentin Tarantino for saying it a million times in movies because its cool.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Side note because I had to google it myself. But I was wondering why Tourette's potty mouth tic guys say that. Why dont they uncontrolably spew out random words like apple or TV etc....

It's supposed to do with the brain going nuts saying taboo words which shouldnt be said. So something like apple being a normal boring word, a Tourette's brain wouldnt care to say it. But if the guy has been conditioned not to say out loud Fuck or Shit etc..... then the brain cant control repressing it like normal folks in those situations. So instead it acts out in a contrarian way.

 

[John Bilbo]

Hahaha.

But how BAFTA going to edit that out? It was right in the middle of the actor's talking.

Using AI they could have altered the scene entirely.

 

[calico]

When you place certain groups upon a pedestal -disabled people and black people in this instance- you are inevitably going to create these catch 22 situations when the privileged status of one comes into conflict with the privileged status of another. This is especially true if you then enact and enforce laws to protect the feelings of those groups.

Having to decide between allowing black people to be offended or effectively censoring a disabled person is not an easy situation for the BBC to handle, and one which probably has legal considerations too.

Tourette's vs black people is probably quite an unusual conflict, but it's a problem British institutions will commonly face with eg. LGB vs Islam. The highly protected status of these groups is intended to protect them from lower class citizens, but they have no good answer for when two highly protected groups come into conflict with each other.

This is not a problem unique to the BBC, it is merely a symptom of arranging and policing society based on a hierarchy of identity but without wanting to expressly state what the exact hierarchy is. The solution is either to have a set of rules which can be -and then is- applied evenly to everyone (lol), or to clearly state the hierarchy so everyone understands which group deference should be given to when a situation like this arises.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Side note because I had to google it myself. But I was wondering why Tourette's potty mouth tic guys say that. Why dont they uncontrolably spew out random words like apple or TV etc....

It's supposed to do with the brain going nuts saying taboo words which shouldnt be said. So something like apple being a normal boring word, a Tourette's brain wouldnt care to say it. But if the guy has been conditioned not to say out loud Fuck or Shit etc..... then the brain cant control repressing it like normal folks in those situations. So instead it acts out in a contrarian way.

He has a form that thinks of the perceived worst things that can be said depending on the situation.

 

[LordCBH]

Tbh it's only a controversy among sub-80 IQ individuals. People with actual, functioning brains understand that he has Tourette's and what that means.

 

[jason10mm]

When you place certain groups upon a pedestal -disabled people and black people in this instance- you are inevitably going to create these catch 22 situations when the privileged status of one comes into conflict with the privileged status of another. This is especially true if you then enact and enforce laws to protect the feelings of those groups.

Having to decide between allowing black people to be offended or effectively censoring a disabled person is not an easy situation for the BBC to handle, and one which probably has legal considerations too.

Tourette's vs black people is probably quite an unusual conflict, but it's a problem British institutions will commonly face with eg. LGB vs Islam. The highly protected status of these groups is intended to protect them from lower class citizens, but they have no good answer for when two highly protected groups come into conflict with each other.

This is not a problem unique to the BBC, it is merely a symptom of arranging and policing society based on a hierarchy of identity but without wanting to expressly state what the exact hierarchy is. The solution is either to have a set of rules which can be -and then is- applied evenly to everyone (lol), or to clearly state the hierarchy so everyone understands which group deference should be given to when a situation like this arises.

Good grief, you are describing a person that can acquire various "privileges" (POC, disability, muslim, LGBT+) and come together like a woke Voltron

 

[Avid Reading Horse]

First of all, who the fuck watches an award show? lol.

I can't imagine a more boring way to spend time.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Tbh it's only a controversy among sub-80 IQ individuals. People with actual, functioning brains understand that he has Tourette's and what that means.

Exactly. Still a funny given the situation, but a non-issue.

I find it hard to believe Jamie Foxx made it a big deal. The guy who's career was founded in comedy you'd think if he spoke up he would had made light of it to ease any tensions people had with it. Instead he got super serious about it.

 

[DKehoe]

I meant to say in my earlier post, but DeafTourette , this is the film about Davidson. I'd be curious to hear what you think of it if you get a chance to check it out.

 

[Moondoggy]

Good on Michael B Jordon and Delroy Lindo for maintaining their professionalism while clearly upset, this was on BAFTA, they could've found a way to work around this person's disability, but they clearly just couldn't be bothered to make an effort.

Also fuck anyone trying to drag this guy through the mud over it saying shit like, "Well clearly he was thinking it, so he's definitely racist!", that's not how Tourette's Syndrome works idiots.

 

[Lukaku's First Touch]

Ok where is a video of this.

 

[Goss Harag]

Good on Michael B Jordon and Delroy Lindo for maintaining their professionalism while clearly upset, this was on BAFTA, they could've found a way to work around this person's disability, but they clearly just couldn't be bothered to make an effort.

Also fuck anyone trying to drag this guy through the mud over it saying shit like, "Well clearly he was thinking it, so he's definitely racist!", that's not how Tourette's Syndrome works idiots.

"BUT WHY IS THAT WORD EVEN IN HIS VOCABULARY???"

I don't know. Maybe he's watched Sinners? Or listened to any rap song from the past 20 years?

 

[DeepEnigma]

Good grief, you are describing a person that can acquire various "privileges" (POC, disability, muslim, LGBT+) and come together like a woke Voltron

Collectivism be that way.

 

[Bojji]

Side note because I had to google it myself. But I was wondering why Tourette's potty mouth tic guys say that. Why dont they uncontrolably spew out random words like apple or TV etc....

It's supposed to do with the brain going nuts saying taboo words which shouldnt be said. So something like apple being a normal boring word, a Tourette's brain wouldnt care to say it. But if the guy has been conditioned not to say out loud Fuck or Shit etc..... then the brain cant control repressing it like normal folks in those situations. So instead it acts out in a contrarian way.

He has a form that thinks of the perceived worst things that can be said depending on the situation.

"Other examples of John's outbursts, though not nearly as serious:

- Yelled "Fuck the queen" as he was getting knighted (by the queen).

- Also yelled at the police during that time, that he had a bomb.

- Yelled at Prince Charles that Camilla takes it up the ass"

Added by Bojji to make things clear.

 

[poppabk]

The excuse the BBC gave was "we didn't hear it"

Yeah I am more imagining a control booth with the guy on the button asking 'do I bleep him' and a bunch of guys just looking at each other afraid to be the one who says bleep the guys disability.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Yeah I am more imagining a control booth with the guy on the button asking 'do I bleep him' and a bunch of guys just looking at each other afraid to be the one who says bleep the guys disability.

No win situation.

1. Bleep the guy and possibility someone complains the hosts on stage are getting weird silence moments like they are oppressing black people from talking.

2. Dont bleep the guy and you get his racist outbursts in clear audio.

Personally, I would had done #1. At least with #1 bleeping it out, a studio guy can argue he didnt want terrible words said. With #2, the studio guy is allowing it. Tourette's guy or not, I think just about everyone except the biggest disability supporter will say it'd be better in that situation to edit it out.