As a Canadian journalist covering the country for The Guardian, I’ve learned to live with Tourette’s syndrome (TS), a neurological disorder that affects me in different ways every day. While my work has been successful, I worry that my tics might distract from the stories I tell. A recent Bafta awards incident highlighted the challenges of accommodating TS in public spaces. The incident sparked debate about the nature of the disorder and whether it should be accommodated.
I’ve tried to hide my tics in the past, but after watching John Davidson, who has coprolalia, face racist backlash for his involuntary outbursts, I realize that the issue is more complex than just an individual’s behavior. The public imagination of TS often relies on stereotypes: uncontrollable swearing and insults.
For me, TS manifests differently – it’s not about being loud or rude; it’s about struggling to control involuntary movements like eye blinks, head shakes, and throat clearings. These symptoms can be embarrassing and hurt physically. As a father of two young children, I worry that they might inherit the condition and face similar challenges.
The Bafta incident made me confront my own fears and doubts about how to make sense of TS. While some people with coprolalia, like Davidson, may not be invited to events due to their outbursts, others feel stigmatized for not attending due to fear of embarrassing themselves or others.
I’ve decided to take a different approach – instead of hiding my tics, I want to make them public. As a journalist and father, I hope to show my children that the world is bigger than just yourself, and that being kind and forgiving towards oneself and others can help navigate the complexities of TS.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/film/commentisfree/2026/feb/26/tourettes-disability-john-davidson-baftas