John Davidson’s Tourette’s tic — which resulted in the disability activist screaming out a racial slur during an awards broadcast, isn’t necessarily about his true feelings coming out, so says a reality star Baylen Dupree with firsthand knowledge of the disorder, TMZ reports.
Baylen Dupree, star of the hit show “Baylen Out Loud” — released a statement Tuesday about Sunday’s incident, saying she felt she needed to say something as a person who deals with tics as well.
Baylen Dupree writes these verbal tics are not thoughts, opinions, or beliefs hidden deep beneath the surface — they are involuntary impulses — no different than a hiccup or a sneeze.
Baylen Dupree says tics don’t usually come from places of hate … but instead, it’s fear or anxiety … and the brain simply misfires.
That said, Baylen makes it clear history matters and words have meaning … but, neurological reality exists … and people with Tourette’s are constantly apologizing for words they don’t mean.
She asks people to remember tics don’t come from the heart … they come from the brain making mistakes.
Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting at The BAFTAs on Sunday when Davidson involuntarily yelled out the N-word. The BBC mistakenly left it in the broadcast.
Davidson issued a statement in which he expressed regret about the incident. Some online — including Jamie Foxx — have insisted he meant to use the slur, a contention Baylen clearly disagrees with.