"It is one of the hardest tics to manage and can be very distressing for those living with it. Many individuals report discrimination and isolation as a result. The type of Tourette's that Davidson lives with is called coprolalia, which involves involuntary and uncontrollable use of obscene and profane language, and affects 10-30 per cent of those with the disorder."
"I have been physically beaten to within an inch of my life with an iron bar after ticking a comment to a young woman whose boyfriend and accomplice ambushed me one evening. The real challenge isn't the tics themselves but the misconceptions surrounding them."
"Tourette's is a neurological disorder characterised by motor and vocal tics like coughs, twitches, and fully articulated phrases. Understanding the nature of these involuntary movements is essential to reducing the discrimination faced by those living with the condition."
John Davidson, a Tourette syndrome campaigner, appeared at the 2026 British Academy Film Awards where his involuntary tics, including coprolalia (uncontrollable profane language), were audible during the live broadcast. Host Alan Cumming explained the neurological cause to the audience. Davidson inspired the Bafta-winning drama I Swear, which won Best Actor for Robert Aramayo. Davidson describes living with Tourette's as involving significant discrimination and isolation. Coprolalia affects 10-30 percent of those with Tourette syndrome and is characterized by involuntary obscene language. Davidson has experienced severe physical violence due to misconceptions about his condition, emphasizing that the real challenge lies not in the tics themselves but in societal misunderstandings surrounding the disorder.
Read at The Independent
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