Saturday Night Live criticised for 'hurtful' Tourette's sketch

BBC World · Mar 2, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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1 hour agoIan YoungsCulture reporterGetty ImagesThe sketch was part of Saturday Night Live's latest episode on 28 FebruarySaturday Night Live (SNL) has been criticised for a sketch about Tourette syndrome, with a charity saying it was "not acceptable".The US TV comedy show depicted a series of controversial celebrities blaming their behaviour on the condition, which can cause involuntary verbal tics.The sketch, which was posted on social media, came in the wake of a furore after a Tourette's campaigner involuntarily shouted a racial slur while two black actors were on stage at last weekend's Bafta Awards.Emma McNally, CEO of Tourette Action, said: "We had hoped this would be a new week and we could move on but the release of further content online that has been designed to ridicule Tourette's and reduce our community to a punchline has only deepened that hurt."She continued: "I want to be completely clear here: THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE."Mocking a disability is never acceptable. It would not be tolerated for any other condition, and it should not be tolerated by people with Tourette's."'Very difficult week'In the SNL sketch, cast members played celebrities including Bill Cosby, Mel Gibson, JK Rowling, Kanye West, Armie Hammer and Louis CK, all claiming past statements or actions were because of Tourette's.It followed a storm over the Baftas, triggered when John Davidson shouted the N-word while actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage, which was subsequently broadcast by the BBC.Davidson has stressed that his tics are involuntary and do not reflect his character, thoughts or beliefs.In a Facebook post on Sunday, he said it had been "a very difficult week", adding: "Whilst I will never apologies for having Tourette syndrome, I will apologise for any pain, upset and misunderstanding that it may create."Getty ImagesJohn Davidson has said he was "deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning"McNally's post, headlined "Statement following Saturday Night Live", explained that Tourette's is a complex and incurable neurological condition."It is not a joke," she said. "It is not a personality trait. It is not a source of entertainment. It is a condition that can be extremely debilitating, causing pain, isolation and huge amounts of discrimination."People with Tourette's have faced "horrific" trolling and harassment in recent days, she said, and acknowledged that recent events have been "painful for multiple communities"."I am not for one minute dismissing that hurt, but directing anger and ridicule to people with Tourette's does nothing to heal that pain and does not move us forward."Saturday Night Live's broadcaster NBC Universal has been asked for a response.The show's UK version will launch later this month.After the Bafta's ceremony last month, Lindo told Vanity Fair that he and Jordan "did what we had to do" as they carried on presenting the category, but also said he wished "someone from Bafta spoke to us afterward".In a statement last week, Bafta said it acknowledged the "harm this has caused, address what happened and apologise to all".'Despicable'US comedian and Black-ish actor Deon Cole has also received criticism for a joke he made while hosting the NAACP Image Awards, which honour black stars, on Saturday.During a mock prayer in his introduction, in which he also took aim at several celebrities, Cole said: "If there are any white men out here in the audience, Lord, with Tourette's, I advise you to tell them they'd better read the room tonight, Lord."It might not go the way they thinketh. Whatever medicine they're on, they'd better double up on it."Broadcaster Piers Morgan was among those who didn't find it amusing. "Hollywood continuing to mock John Davidson over his Tourette's condition is one of the most despicable things I've witnessed in a long time," he wrote."Shame on @deoncole and all those in the audience who laughed at his vile 'jokes'."Many fans, including fellow actor Jamie Foxx, defended Cole online."Brilliant!! You funny af all the time!!!" Foxx posted with a clip of Cole's monologue.Cole replied: "Appreciate u king! People got to learn how to take a joke. It's all in fun."BBC News has asked Cole for a response.Lindo acknowledged the incident at the event, telling the audience: "We appreciate the support and love we have been shown in the aftermath of what happened last weekend."It's a classic case of something that could've been very negative becoming very positive," he said from the stage."Thank you so much for the support."