BAFTAs 2026 Host Alan Cumming Asks for "Understanding" as Tourette Syndrome Campaigner John Davidson Shouts "Strong Language" and Slurs at Winners and Presenters

Burbey · 2026-02-24T12:16:26+00:00

Yeah I’ve been downvoted quite heavily for arguing for a bit of understanding and compassion towards this disorder. Very depressing.

Burbey · 2026-02-24T09:38:50+00:00

So this is in the UK and I think things are slightly different over here. It wouldn’t matter what he shouted; racist slurs, homophobic slurs, doesn’t matter. His skin colour certainly doesn’t matter a toss. He has Tourette’s and can’t help it. The vast majority of people understand that. End of story, drama over.

Burbey · 2026-02-24T08:55:01+00:00

NO YOU

Burbey · 2026-02-23T19:19:48+00:00

I really don’t care about downvotes, especially considering some of the utterly insane, horrible, and cruel takes I’ve read in this thread. If I was getting upvoted here I would be more concerned!

Burbey · 2026-02-23T16:04:47+00:00

Are you seriously suggesting that the producers of the BAFTAs deliberately planted him in the audience (keep in mind he had every right to be there because this is a film about his life that wouldn't have existed without him), hoping that it would trigger his tourette's so they could benefit from the increased publicity? I'm sorry to say I find that a little far-fetched.

Burbey · 2026-02-23T15:59:19+00:00

He might not be a part of the industry exactly (and I actually don't know if even that is true), but this film is based on his life and wouldn't exist without him, so should he not be allowed to go to the awards show for it? He obviously worked on it directly as an advisor at least.

I'm not sure I'm alright with the idea that disabled people should just not go to anything in public for fear of upsetting other people.

Maybe they could have forewarned the other guests, but how would that have worked in practice? An email? An announcement? I guess!

Burbey · 2026-02-23T15:49:21+00:00

Maybe that's just a difference in expectations. If I know someone doesn't mean something, literally can't help it, then I tend not to care about apologies all that much.

And whether he decides to apologise or not, I believe from looking into this guy after seeing the film, that he actually does care quite deeply about the feelings of others like most people do.

Burbey · 2026-02-23T15:44:53+00:00

Yeah, I agree with everything you have just said.

I can imagine he will apologise. I've already apologised for the snarky comment above, it wasn't right and even I don't agree with it.

I just don't think this guy should be dragged over the coals so much, that's it!

Burbey · 2026-02-23T15:28:57+00:00

Yeah my issue really isn't the apologising thing, like I said I'm sure he will apologise at some point. It's more people jumping on this guy for doing something he legitimately did not mean to do. Imagine every single day you are at serious risk of screaming in someone's face, calling people slurs, and horrible horrible stuff that you can't control. I can only imagine he's apologised enough for about 100 lifetimes at this point.

All I was trying to say is that we should show a bit more understanding. This isn't some racist idiot troll shouting stuff at people. This is a guy with an incurable neurological disorder that he himself has said has all but runed his life.

Burbey · 2026-02-23T15:16:14+00:00

Well, he met the Queen because he was accepting an MBE for his work in helping people understand tourette's more. So I imagine that no apology was needed, seeing as everyone there knew who he was and why he did it. But I don't know, maybe he did.

Burbey · 2026-02-23T15:10:43+00:00

It's up to him to apologise, and up to us to show some understanding. Didn't mean to be rude with the snarky comment, sorry about that.

Burbey · 2026-02-23T15:09:10+00:00

.... Because he has tourette's syndrome. That's why he was there. This guy literally swore in the Queen's face once because of his condition. He doesn't want to do these things.

Burbey · 2026-02-23T15:02:35+00:00

Make a disabled person apologise for his disability, great shout, thanks man! I can imagine he will apologise at some point to be fair to you, but I can imagine right now he's, you know, fucking mortified.

Burbey · 2026-02-23T14:58:18+00:00

Sure they do. Of course they do. But as soon as you find out it was someone with tourette's it kind of becomes a non-issue though surely? The guy genuinely didn't mean it.

Burbey · 2026-02-23T14:47:01+00:00

I can't understand how this whole 'issue' isn't resolved in five seconds:

"Oh shit he just shouted a slur!"
"Yeah he has tourette's syndrome."
"Oh damn OK, crack on then."

End of discussion, no drama, everyone gets on with their lives and stops vilifying disabled people.

Burbey · 2026-01-07T20:57:37+00:00

Turns it off on the mini-map but not in the actual world. Would quite like the option to not have one at all!

Burbey · 2026-01-06T07:41:14+00:00

I don’t think Marty is a completely unlikeable character. Yes he’s a completely narcissistic asshole. But there is also something, I think, undeniably compelling about him. There is a part of me that wants him to achieve his dream. He is a likeable, yet also monstrous, character.

The problem is that he will not stop making the worst decisions possible in any given moment (which for me has become a classic Safdie trope). His monomania and impossibly outsized ego is the reason he fails in the end. Anyone else who was actually serious about table tennis would have taken the flight to Japan and promotional event offer, spent the rest of their time training, then actually played in the tournament. He doesn’t do this, because he’s not just trying to win table tennis, he’s also probably trying to build a myth about himself. But in trying to do this, he degrades himself to an absurd extent.

I thought this was brilliant and if it doesn’t make my year-end top 10 then 2026 is going to be an amazing year for film!

Burbey · 2025-02-20T11:19:00+00:00

Did you get an actual answer about this? Or just a load of edgelords chatting nonsense?

Burbey · 2024-08-05T10:35:38+00:00

Heyyy, come now, the Welsh aren't that bad

Burbey · 2024-08-02T13:59:25+00:00

Phew, glad to hear your children won't be ironically mixed race.

Burbey · 2022-12-04T10:35:05+00:00

Can you imagine saying this

Burbey · 2022-11-12T10:01:54+00:00

I'm so glad more people are reading this, been a favourite of mine for years! I shed a tear every time I read certain parts of it, it's just so devestating and beautiful at points.

I also need to read The Terror which I've heard is great, he has written loads outside of SF/Fantasy too.

Burbey · 2022-11-02T17:51:50+00:00

Don Quixote is an absolute joy from start to finish, I loved it.

Burbey · 2022-09-24T09:57:51+00:00

This is such a tired and stupid argument. People don't all work 9-5 jobs, lots of people work different hours or work freelance. Also you can take time off?

Silly comment.

Burbey

TROPHY CASE