The 79th BAFTA Awards were held at the Royal Festival Hall in London on Sunday. Many veteran actors attended the British Academy Film Awards. Many films were given awards in different categories. When the awards ceremony was going on in London, suddenly some ‘abuse’ started being heard from time to time. Before the people present there could raise any objection, host Alan Cumming addressed the people, clarified the situation and also apologized.
Why did ‘abuse’ start being heard suddenly?
BAFTA Awards are usually remembered for emotional speeches and standing ovations, but this year what is being discussed even after the awards ceremony are some words heard suddenly during the ceremony. John Davidson suddenly spoke these words. He did not do this deliberately. John Davidson suffers from a condition in which certain voices emerge uncontrollably. This is called Tourette syndrome.
The host apologized, said- ‘Thank you for creating a respectable place for everyone’
The film ‘I Swear’ based on John Davidson was nominated in BAFTA. This film is made on Tourette Syndrome. This film was honored at the awards ceremony. But suddenly some objectionable words started echoing in the award ceremony. These words were coming out of John Davidson’s mouth. Meanwhile, host Alan Cumming spoke to the audience to understand what the audience was hearing. The host clarified the situation by referring to the film ‘I Swear’ and said, ‘You might have heard some strong language in the background. This may be part of how Tourette syndrome appears in some people. This is what has been shown in the film. Thank you for your understanding and helping to create a respectful space for all.
What is Tourette Syndrome?
Alan Cumming reiterated his point in the evening, saying, ‘Tourette syndrome is a disability and the tics you heard tonight were your own. This means that the person who has Tourette syndrome has no control over his language. We’re sorry if you felt bad tonight. After this award function, a fresh discussion has started on Tourette Syndrome and emphasis is also being laid on spreading awareness about it. Let us tell you that Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder, which usually starts at the age of 2-15 years. It involves sudden, uncontrolled and repetitive physical movements or sounds, called ‘tics’. Some similar tics from John Davidson were heard at BAFTA on Sunday.
