Actor Robert Aramayo has stepped up in support of Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson, who made headlines after being escorted out of the BAFTAs on Sunday for shouting racial slurs from the audience.

The 33-year-old actor, who won the Best Actor BAFTA for his portrayal of John in the film “I Swear,” addressed the incident that occurred during the ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall.

“I Swear” chronicles the life of John Davidson, now 54, who was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome at a time when understanding of the condition was limited.

BAFTA host Alan Cumming expressed gratitude to the audience for their patience after the film’s director, affected by the condition, made several involuntary outbursts.

Cumming also issued an apology to viewers following John’s shouting of a racial slur during the presentation by Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo. As of now, the incident remains audible on the iPlayer version of the ceremony.

After the event, Aramayo shared his perspective, emphasizing that managing the condition is a “joint responsibility” for all involved.

Robert Aramayo has jumped to the defence of Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson who left the BAFTAs on Sunday after shouting racial slurs in the audience (pictured together)

The actor, 33, who has just collected a Best Actor BAFTA after playing John in the film I Swear, spoke out after the expletive tics were heard at the ceremony

A BBC reporter said: ‘You could hear him shouting and words people find offensive.’

Robert replied: ‘First of all they are tics. He is ticking. We have to understand. The way we perceive Tourette’s is a joint responsibility. It’s not shouting obscenities. 

‘It’s not being abusive. It’s Tourette’s. They are tics. If it can lead to a deeper understanding of Tourette’s, and movies are part of that conversation, then it’s an incredible thing.’

A BBC spokesperson said: ‘Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards 2026. 

‘This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and was not intentional. We apologise for any offence caused by the language heard.’

John appeared to have left the ceremony in the second half of the show as his outbursts could no longer be heard. 

According to Variety, John left of his own accord and was not asked to leave by BAFTA. A source told the publication that he was an ‘invited guest’ and under no circumstances would he be asked to leave the ceremony.

While Michael and Delroy didn’t react to the remark, Alan later addressed the audience at London’s Royal Festival Hall and apologised for the offensive language. 

Speaking after the ceremony, Robert was asked what his thoughts were on the situation, and he insisted that the condition is a ‘joint responsibility’

BAFTAs host Alan Cumming thanked the audience for their understanding after the I Swear director let out involuntary shouts during the ceremony 

I Swear details the life of campaigner John, now 54, who was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome at a time when little was known about the condition

Addressing the shuots, Alan told the crowd: ‘You may have heard some strong offensive language tonight, but if you’ve seen the film I Swear, it’s about the experience of a person with Tourette syndrome. 

‘It is a disability and the tics you have heard tonight are involuntary that means the person who has Tourette syndrome has no control over their language and we apologise if it has caused offence.’ 

The neurological condition, characterised by a combination of involuntary noises and movements called tics, affects roughly one in 100 children, according to NHS England. 

I Swear stars Robert as campaigner John and depicts his younger years living in Glasgow, when he was first diagnosed with Tourette syndrome.

The film was nominated in the Outstanding British Film category, but lost out to Hamnet.

However, Robert bagged the award for Lead Actor, beating front-runners Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothee Chalamet who were also up for the award. 

He also won the EE Rising Star Award, the only public-voted accolade of the night.  

Peter Mullan, who plays Tommy Trotter in the film, was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor, however he lost out to Sean Penn who bagged the accolade for One Battle After Another.  

Alan continued to raise awareness for the condition after some strong language and involuntary shouts were heard from John (John pictured with the mum of his friend Dottie Achenbach, who helped raise him) 

John was awarded an MBE – for his tireless work over the years to heighten awareness of the condition.

Recalling the ‘proudest’ moment of his life when he was handed his MBE, John revealed that on the day, aside from swearing at the Queen, he experienced a compulsion to tell police officers at Holyrood Palace that he had ‘a f***ing bomb!’ as they routinely checked his vehicle.

One Battle After Another was the big winner at the 2026 British Academy Film Awards on Sunday night, as it scooped six gongs during the ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall.

The Paul Thomas Anderson hit had already received a record 14 nominations, and came out on top as it won Best Film, Best Director, Adapted Screenplay, Supporting Actor, Cinematography and Editing.

While Jessie Buckley won Best Actress honour for her role in Hamnet, having been favourite to do so, the night wasn’t without surprises, as Timothee Chalamet missed out on Best Actor to a home-grown favourite.

Despite being tipped as a favourite for the honour for his role in Marty Supreme, Timothee lost out on the prize to I Swear star Robert Aramayo.

As One Battle After Another was awarded Best Film, producer Sarah Murphy said: ‘We wish more than anything that our producing partner Adam Somner could be here to accept this on behalf of us on his home turf.’

Director and producer Paul Thomas Anderson said: ‘Thank you for rewarding our film in the way that you have, it’s just a tremendous honour. 

I Swear star Robert (pictured in the film) as campaigner John. The film depicts his younger years living in Glasgow, when he was first diagnosed with Tourette’s 

‘I’m well aware of the other films that share this. Anybody that says movies aren’t any good any more they can piss off because this is just a great f*****g year.’

He added that he planned to go and find a ‘bar somewhere to go celebrate’.

The biggest loser of the evening was the highly acclaimed ping pong drama Marty Supreme, which went into the evening as one of the favourites, with 11 nominations. It came away completely empty-handed.

Jessie, who is already tipped as a favourite to win the Oscar for Best Actress, used her acceptance speech to thank her fellow nominees.

She said: ‘This is really such an incredible honour. As a little girl I never thought in a million years I would be allowed to make a film but here I am. 

‘When I arrived into my agent Lindy King in London, and I had nuclear bad fake tan on, white hoop earrings, a polka dot red skirt and dress, and I had the audacity to say to her that I dreamed to someday be something like Judi Dench. 

‘I don’t know how on God’s green earth she even dreamed that was possible. This really does belong to the women who have taught me and continue to teach me how to do it differently.’

Thanking her fellow nominees, Jessie forgot to include Kate Hudson and asked the audience: ‘Who have I left out?’ 

She then added: ‘I am in awe of all your incredible performances thank you.’ 

Meanwhile viewers, and guests in attendance, were stunned when it was announced that Robert had been awarded Best Actor for I Swear, beating out Hollywood heavyweights Timothee Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Upon learning of his son’s honour, Robert’s father jumped to his feet and was shouting and jumping up and down when his son’s name was read.

From the stage, Aramayo said: ‘I absolutely can’t believe this. I can’t believe I’m looking at people like you never mind that I’m stood here.’ 

With 28 gongs awarded on Sunday night, the main winners were One Battle After Another with six prizes. Sinners, Frankenstein and I Swear followed with three each, whilst Hamnet won two gongs.  

EE BAFTA FILM AWARDS 2026: THE WINNERS

BEST FILM  

HAMNET 

MARTY SUPREME

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER – WINNER

SENTIMENTAL VALUE 

SINNERS 

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM

28 YEARS LATER 

THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND 

BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY 

DIE MY LOVE 

H IS FOR HAWK 

HAMNET – WINNER 

I SWEAR 

MR BURTON 

PILLION 

STEVE

One Battle After Another earned the most nods with 14, including one for lead star Leonardo DiCaprio

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER

THE CEREMONY Jack King (Director, Writer), Hollie Bryan (Producer), Lucy Meer (Producer)

MY FATHER’S SHADOW Akinola Davies Jr. (Director), Wale Davies (Writer) – WINNER

PILLION Harry Lighton (Director, Writer)

A WANT IN HER Myrid Carten (Director)

WASTEMAN Cal McMau (Director), Hunter Andrews (Writer), Eoin Doran (Writer)

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT 

THE SECRET AGENT 

SENTIMENTAL VALUE – WINNER

SIRĀT 

THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB 

Marty Supreme has scored eleven BAFTA nominations including Best Film

DOCUMENTARY

2000 METERS TO ANDRIIVKA 

APOCALYPSE IN THE TROPICS 

COVER-UP 

MR. NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN – WINNER

THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR 

ANIMATED FILM

ELIO 

LITTLE AMÉLIE 

ZOOTROPOLIS 2 – WINNER

CHILDREN’S & FAMILY FILM

ARCO 

BOONG – WINNER

LILO & STITCH 

ZOOTROPOLIS 2 

DIRECTOR

BUGONIA 

HAMNET 

MARTY SUPREME 

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Paul Thomas Anderson – WINNER 

SENTIMENTAL VALUE 

SINNERS

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

I SWEAR 

MARTY SUPREME 

THE SECRET AGENT 

SENTIMENTAL VALUE 

SINNERS – WINNER

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND 

BUGONIA 

HAMNET

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER – WINNER

PILLION

LEADING ACTRESS 

JESSIE BUCKLEY Hamnet – WINNER

ROSE BYRNE If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

KATE HUDSON Song Sung Blue

CHASE INFINITI One Battle After Another

RENATE REINSVE Sentimental Value

EMMA STONE Bugonia

Teyana Taylor has a Supporting Actress nomination for One Battle After Another

LEADING ACTOR

ROBERT ARAMAYO I Swear – WINNER

TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET Marty Supreme

LEONARDO DICAPRIO One Battle After Another

ETHAN HAWKE Blue Moon

MICHAEL B. JORDAN Sinners

JESSE PLEMONS Bugonia

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

ODESSA A’ZION Marty Supreme

INGA IBSDOTTER LILLEAAS Sentimental Value

WUNMI MOSAKU Sinners – WINNER

CAREY MULLIGAN The Ballad of Wallis Island

TEYANA TAYLOR One Battle After Another

EMILY WATSON Hamnet

SUPPORTING ACTOR 

BENICIO DEL TORO One Battle After Another

JACOB ELORDI Frankenstein

PAUL MESCAL Hamnet

PETER MULLAN I Swear

SEAN PENN One Battle After Another – WINNER

STELLAN SKARSGÅRD Sentimental Value

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners has earned 11 nods overall 

CASTING

I SWEAR Lauren Evans – WINNER

MARTY SUPREME Jennifer Venditti

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Cassandra Kulukundis

SENTIMENTAL VALUE Yngvill Kolset Haga, Avy Kaufman

SINNERS Francine Maisler

CINEMATOGRAPHY

FRANKENSTEIN Dan Laustsen

MARTY SUPREME Darius Khondji

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Michael Bauman – WINNER

SINNERS Autumn Durald Arkapaw

TRAIN DREAMS Adolpho Veloso

EDITING 

F1 Stephen Mirrione

A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE Kirk Baxter

MARTY SUPREME Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Andy Jurgensen – WINNER

SINNERS Michael P. Shawver

COSTUME DESIGN 

FRANKENSTEIN Kate Hawley – WINNER

HAMNET Malgosia Turzanska

MARTY SUPREME Miyako Bellizzi

SINNERS Ruth E. Carter

WICKED: FOR GOOD Paul Tazewell

MAKE UP & HAIR 

FRANKENSTEIN Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey, Mike Hill, Megan Many – WINNER

HAMNET Nicole Stafford

MARTY SUPREME Kyra Panchenko, Kay Georgiou, Mike Fontaine

SINNERS Siân Richards, Shunika Terry, Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine

WICKED: FOR GOOD Frances Hannon, Laura Blount, Mark Coulier, Sarah Nuth

ORIGINAL SCORE

BUGONIA Jerskin Fendrix

FRANKENSTEIN Alexandre Desplat

HAMNET Max Richter

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Jonny Greenwood

SINNERS Ludwig Göransson – WINNERS

Hamnet has broken the record for the most nominations for a female-directed film in BAFTA history

PRODUCTION DESIGN 

FRANKENSTEIN Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau – WINNER

HAMNET Fiona Crombie, Alice Felton

MARTY SUPREME Jack Fisk, Adam Willis

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Florencia Martin, Anthony Carlino

SINNERS Hannah Beachler, Monique Champagne

SOUND

F1 Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta – WINNER

FRANKENSTEIN Greg Chapman, Nathan Robitallie, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke, Brad Zoem

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Jose Antonio Garcia, Christopher Scarabosio, Tony Villaflor

SINNERS Chris Welcker, Benny Burtt, Brandon Proctor, Steve Boeddeker, Felipe Pacheco

WARFARE Mitch Low, Ben Barker, Howard Bargroff, Richard Spooner

Sentimental Value has eight BAFTA nominations

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS

AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Daniel Barrett, Eric Saindon – WINNER

F1 Ryan Tudhope, Keith Alfred Dawson, Nicolas Chevallier, Robert Harrington

FRANKENSTEIN Dennis Berardi, Ayo Burgess, Ivan Busquets, José Granell

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Christian Mänz, Francois Lambert, Glen McIntosh, Terry Palmer

THE LOST BUS Charlie Noble, Brandon K. McLaughlin, David Zaretti

BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION 

CARDBOARD 

SOLSTICE 

TWO BLACK BOYS IN PARADISE  – WINNER

BRITISH SHORT FILM 

MAGID / ZAFAR 

NOSTALGIE 

TERENCE 

THIS IS ENDOMETRIOSIS – WINNER

WELCOME HOME FRECKLES 

EE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)

ROBERT ARAMAYO – WINNER

MILES CATON

CHASE INFINITI

ARCHIE MADEKWE

POSY STERLING