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I'm a PP but also Black. Maybe, the only one on this thread. I can't speak for all Black Americans or individuals but I don't fault John Davidson for his condition. He can't control his Tourettes, he shouldn't have to live as a shut-in, and he should absolutely be allowed to attend a major awards show that's potentially honoring a film about his life. I also think he should publicly apologize to the targets of his outburst in the same way most decent people will apologize for accidentally stepping on someone else's foot. Unintentional, sure but the person still has a hurt foot or dirty shoes.
The fault of this is 100% with BAFTA and the BBC. BAFTA should have better prepared the presenters and crowd for potentially offensive outbursts... not just "potential disruptions." There should have been more context provided so people weren't caught off guard and could maybe even respond in a way that would defuse any controversy. Worse is the decision to not edit the outburst. That's inexcusable and there should be significant blowback. I don't know how Europe's equivalent of an FCC operates, but the BBC should be fined significantly and, if Black performers boycott the BAFTA's moving forward, that should be understandable. The fact that "poltical" statements were censored, but the outburst was allowed to remain in the broadcast seems intentional and there's very little explanation that would make me feel otherwise. |
So how do we hold those with dementia responsible for the harm they cause? How do we hold those with severe autism responsible for the harm they cause? |
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The look on delroy lindos face broke my heart.
No, his and all black actors right to not have the n word yelled at them in the workplace is not secondary to other people. I am sure that a prestigious event like the BAFTAs have VIP suites that the BBC could have invited John Davidson to watch the event in. I am sure that he would much prefer being in a safe space where he can relax and not have to be mindful about the possibility of outbursts. He could have been paired with his own family and the I Swear cast/crew. |
Intent DOES matter. Of course, it does. Also, response to impact can be a choice too. When the blind person bumps into you, you can understand and move on, or push them back, or call the police and file battery charges. When the child with cerebral palsy spills their drink and it drips on your shoe, you can wipe off your shoe, or scream and cause a public scene, or smack the kid in anger. You moderate yoru response precisely becasue intent adn ability to control behavior does matter. It's a horrific word that no one wants to hear and it is triggering, and yet when you choose to understand how it came to be utterred, you can choose how to respond: with empathy, or by humiliating the individual with a disability, or by running them through with your anger. You do have a choice in this, whereas, he dd not. |
You can control your foot. He can't control Copralalia. So he can apologize but he could have many more outbursts for things he has just apologized for. Apologizing makes sense if you have control. If you have a muscular condition and can't control your foot due to muscle contractions and spasms so you step on my foot - apologize, then step on my foot again, apologize, step on my foot again, apologize, step on my foot again, apologize...what is the point and where does it end? |
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Do you want to be angry or do you want to learn? Many posters here have offer credible, research-based explanations of what Davidson did, that entirely fit with the characteristics of Tourette's. Yet so many refuse to consider that their own (layperson's) opinion is not reality. It's astounding sometimes the effort it must take to remain ignorant.
Again, I strongly encourage every doubter on this thread to give the movie a watch. It is a fantastic film regardless, and it's ridiculous that it was snubbed so by the Oscars. |
This is silly. Apologizing makes the most sense when you do something without intent of causing harm. |
That doesn't change that Davidson significantly retracted from the moments of others. He had the right to be at the awards to a certain point but had the obligation to remove himself if he was going to make it impossible for the show to continue and it would have gotten to that point. |
Are you just trolling or do you really believe that? |
How do words cause physical harm? |
| Say if his tic was punching? And he punches someone and breaks their nose. Does the lack of intent make it less broken ? |
They get drugged or removed from their care facility. You know that medical professionals don’t have to put up with you hurling racists slurs no matter your medical condition, right? Same with violence. It’s drugs or your care can end. |
+1 |
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Is the word even prominent or even used in Scotland?
How does this guy know it? |
Nope. “His existence as an individual with Tourette’s” is NOT “harmful “ in my view. The content of several of his outbursts was. He can anticipate that some of his outburst may hurt some of the people who hear them. Again, he’s an adult who advocates for inclusion for people like him who have Tourette’s. He is capable of making a meaningful apology to people that have been impacted by his behavior — and, IMO, he should do so. |