John Davidson to watch BAFTA Scotland awards from separate relaxed space
John Davidson will attend the BAFTA Scotland awards in November, but he will not sit in the main auditorium.
The Tourette's syndrome campaigner will instead watch the ceremony by video link from a separate relaxed space inside the venue, with family and friends around him. The arrangement was made at his own suggestion, according to The Guardian.
He will not miss much on paper. I Swear, the film based on his life, has seven nominations at the Scottish ceremony. It holds all three places for best film actor, for Peter Mullan, Robert Aramayo and Scott Ellis Watson, while Shirley Henderson is nominated for best film actress.
The plan follows the national BAFTA film awards in February. Davidson, who lives with Tourette's syndrome, a condition linked to involuntary sounds and movements, attended as an executive producer of I Swear, in which Aramayo portrays him, according to BBC.
During that ceremony he shouted several times, including using the N-word while Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan were on stage to present the first prize. The outburst was heard on the BBC's coverage, even though the broadcast started two hours later. Aramayo went on to win best actor that night and was in tears as he collected the award.
Davidson later said he was deeply mortified if anyone thought his involuntary tics were intentional. He said he left the auditorium early because he was aware of the distress they were causing.
The BBC apologised for the broadcast. Producers overseeing the ceremony for the BBC were working from a truck outside and did not hear the slur. Davidson later said the BBC should have "worked harder to prevent anything that I said" at the awards, according to BBC.
The February ceremony was hosted by Alan Cumming. He later criticised BAFTA over the incident, according to The Guardian.
BAFTA said the November arrangements were made in consultation with safeguarding and inclusion experts. In a letter to members, chair Sara Putt and chief executive Jane Millichip said the organisation had strengthened and centralised its safeguarding, risk assessment and compliance processes after an independent review.
For people following the awards, this means Davidson can be present for a night built around his story without being placed in the main room.
