Tourette’s causes involuntary outbursts – this is what people with the condition want you to know

John Davidson attended the BAFTAs ceremony but left early after becoming aware that his outbursts were causing distress LifestyleHealth & FamiliesTourette’s causes involuntary outbursts – this is what people with the condition want you to knowJohn Davidson attended the BAFTAs ceremony but left early after becoming aware that his outbursts were causing distressMelissa Licari The Conversation Tuesday 24 February 2026 03:44 ESTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popoveropen image in galleryJohn Davidson (left) and Richard Aramayo at the BAFTAs (Getty Images)Your support helps us to tell the storyRead moreSupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. 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We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreTourette syndrome campaigner John Davidson has explained he left the British Film and Television Awards (BAFTAs) ceremony early on Monday night, aware his outbursts were causing distress.Davidson was attending the ceremony to support the film I Swear, which tells the story of his life living with the syndrome. Tourette’s can cause involuntary movements and sounds, including words.Davidson’s outbursts during the ceremony included a racial slur while actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindon, who are Black, were presenting an award.In a statement, Davidson stressed the words were not intentional and did not “carry any meaning”. He said he was “deeply mortified” that people might have thought otherwise.There are valid criticisms about how the BAFTAs and the broadcaster handled the situation and failed to properly acknowledge the hurt caused, whether or not it was intended.But the syndrome Davidson has spent his life educating people about remains sadly misunderstood. So let’s take a look at Tourette’s and the tics it causes.open image in galleryJohn Davidson left the ceremony after shouting a racial slur (Ian West/PA) (PA Wire)A neurological disorderTourette’s is a neurological disorder characterised by unintentional movements and vocalisations, known as tics.While the exact cause of Tourette’s is not fully understood, it is likely to be complex and multifactorial.Various genes have been linked to the condition, and we know it runs in families, so it likely has a strong genetic basis.We also know that other environmental exposures during key periods of brain development contribute to the onset and course of the condition, such as complications during pregnancy and birth, illnesses and infections, and intense stress.Tourette syndrome also rarely occurs in isolation, with many diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and learning disorders.What are tics?Tics are thought to be caused by changes in brain circuits involved in impulse control and inhibition.People with tics often experience uncomfortable physical sensations that build up in the body called premonitory urges. These urges are difficult and often impossible to suppress, and the only way to alleviate the urge is to tic.It is a bit like when we experience itching on our skin or tingling in our nose, sensations we relieve by scratching or sneezing.Tics vary between people and fluctuate in frequency, type and intensity, which can be challenging to manage.Some tics are brief movements and sounds, such as forceful blinking, facial grimacing, head jerking, sniffing, throat clearing and grunting. These are referred to as “simple” tics and are very common, particularly in young children.Other tics involve more elaborate patterns of movements and sounds – often involving several parts of the body.These are “complex” tics. They include motor tics like hitting oneself, kicking or dropping to the floor, and vocal tics like repeating words or phrases. This can include socially inappropriate terms such as slurs or swearwords.It is believed the Tourette’s brain sometimes struggles to control “forbidden” impulses. A person may experience urges to say taboo words and phrases, or make inappropriate actions, when they see or hear certain things within their environment.open image in galleryTics are involuntary (Alamy/PA) (Alamy/PA)How common are tics?Tics are very common among children, with simple tics occurring in up to one in five children aged between five and six. These normally resolve in a short s