'Thieving tw*ts!' Tourette's campaigner has bike stolen while at BAFTAs
Last updated 26th Feb 2026
Tourette's campaigner John Davidson has described the fall-out from this year's British Academy Film Awards as the "worst three days of his life".
The Galashiels caretaker provoked an angry backlash after he was heard on TV making an involuntary racial slur.
It happened as Sinners actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan presented a prize at Sunday night's ceremony in London.
And the 54-year-old revealed the situation was compounded when he returned home to the Scottish Borders to find someone had stolen his bike.
In a post on his Facebook page tonight (Wednesday), John said: "Just experienced the worst three days and come home to find that some thieving tw*ts has stolen my bike from the vennel in my garden.
"If anyone hears or sees a metallic green cube bike large frame please give me a shout."
The local community has been quick to rally round the Langlee Community Centre worker - who later revealed his bike had been recovered by police - as questions are raised over why the slur wasn't edited out of the broadcast before it was aired on the BBC.
A film about his struggles with Tourette syndrome picked up three awards on the night.
And it's hoped more people watching I Swear will help raise awareness and understanding of the condition.
In an interview with Variety, John - who has been awarded an MBE for his work raising awareness of Tourette's - said: "When socially unacceptable words come out, the guilt and shame on the part of the person with the condition is often unbearable and causes enormous distress. I can’t begin to explain how upset and distraught I have been as the impact from Sunday sinks in.
"I want people to know and understand that my tics have absolutely nothing to do with what I think, feel or believe. It’s an involuntary neurological misfire. My tics are not an intention, not a choice and not a reflection of my values. Those who have seen 'I Swear' will understand this.
"I am often triggered by what I see and/or what I hear, and this part of the condition is called echolalia. For example, when the chair of BAFTA started speaking on Sunday, I shouted, 'Boring'.
"On Sunday, Alan Cumming joked about his own sexuality and, when referencing Paddington Bear, said, 'Maybe you would like to come home with me, Paddington. It wouldn’t be the first time I have taken a hairy Peruvian bear home with me.' This resulted in homophobic tics from me and led to a shout of 'pedophile' that was likely triggered because Paddington Bear is a children’s character."
But he added: "The negative responses only go to show the importance of people seeing the film and understanding more about an incredibly complex neurological condition.
"Sometimes you feel like you are making real progress in educating people on the condition, but there is so much more needed. Comments following the BAFTAs where people have said things like, 'I need to stay inside', 'I wouldn’t say these things unless I thought them', and 'I am racist deep down' are deeply upsetting for me, and show there is still so much to do."
The BBC apologised for not editing the racial slur out of the broadcast, but say it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer."
For more stories from the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland, bookmark our home page - https://hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/borders/news/