Baftas row 'has sparked Tourette's negativity'

The mother of a boy with Tourette's syndrome who starred in the film I Swear says she fears that understanding of the condition has taken a "backwards" step following the Baftas ceremony row.

John Davidson, whose life story and struggles with Tourette's inspired the film, shouted a racial slur as Sinners stars Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the first prize at the Bafta Film Awards on Sunday.

Dexter, from Sale in Greater Manchester, appeared in the film and the 13-year-old's mum Sharon said they "had every right to feel offended by the racial slur" but the incident had sparked "extreme negativity".

She said Tourette's was a "disability" and people "cannot help it".

Tourette's is characterised by sudden, involuntary and repetitive movements or sounds, known as tics.

The BBC has apologised for not editing out the racial slur from its Bafta Film Awards coverage after Davidson from Galashiels in Scotland who was a guest at the ceremony shouted out offensive words as a result of his tics.

Davidson said the BBC should have "worked harder to prevent anything that I said" at awards being broadcast, and questioned why he was seated near a microphone.

Dexter appeared as a member of a Tourette's support group in the film.

Sharon told BBC North West Tonightthere had been a "positive reaction" after the release of I Swear, which won three Baftas in total.

However, she said since Sunday, it had gone back to being more negative comments being made and she felt it had overshadowed the success of the film.

"Some of the comments were really extreme," she said, including "that people with Tourette's shouldn't be allowed out in public".

"In the past few days, it's got a bit back to more negativity rather than the positivity of winning the Baftas.

"This has overtaken the goodness out of it."

Dexter was diagnosed with the neurological condition at the age of 11 and said the condition could be physically exhausting.

However, starring in the film was "an eye-opener to how supportive people can be".

For the young actor, it was the first time he had the chance to meet other children and adults with the condition.

He said it was like "an anxiety relief to see so many people who can go about on their lives with Tourette's".

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