Tourette's Scot John 'mortified' by race slur row

THE Scot who inspired the Bafta-winning film about Tourette's last night said he was “deeply mortified” over a racial slur he shouted at the bash.

- BY SALLY HIND

John Davidson's struggle with Tourettes was depicted in I Swear by Robert Aramayo, who beat Hollywood A-listers Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet to win best actor at the awards on Sunday.

But host Alan Cumming was forced to ask for understanding over “strong and offensive language” after expletives and a racial slur were heard coming from the audience, saying: “We apologise if you were offended.”

The slur was shouted as Sinners actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan presented an award at London's Royal Festival Hall, with actor Aramayo jumping to Davidson's defence straight after the show.

And last night, Tourette's campaigner Davidson said he is “deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning”.

He said he chose to leave the auditorium early as he was “aware of the distress my tics were causing”.