Nothing gets people talking like a controversial SNL sketch!
Over the weekend, Saturday Night Live took on a lightning rod topic of recent controversy: the shocking moment a guest with Tourette Syndrome shouted out the N-word during the 2026 BAFTAs. ICYMI, while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting, the slur was flung, leaving the Sinners stars momentarily speechless. And despite a two-hour delay in between when the awards ceremony was filmed and when it aired, the piercing slur was left in the broadcast. You can hear the startling moment HERE.
Before the show, host Alan Cumming informed everyone that Tourette Syndrome advocate John Davidson, who suffers from the condition that causes individuals to release involuntary verbal and physical tics, was in the audience. If you didn’t know, John was invited as a guest because a film about his life, I Swear, was up for several awards. After the slur incident, Alan said:
“You may have noticed some strong language in the background. This can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people as the film explores that experience. Thanks for your understanding and for helping create a respectful space for everyone.”
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Later in the broadcast, he added:
“Tourette’s syndrome is a disability, and the tics you’ve heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette’s syndrome has no control over their language. We apologize if you are offended tonight.”
John ultimately ended up excusing himself from the crowd. Fast forward to this weekend, SNL took on the shocking moment in a matter that has left many appalled.
In a sketch titled Tourette’s, several cast members pose as controversial celebrities including Mel Gibson, Armie Hammer, Bill Cosby, Louis C.K., J.K. Rowling, and more. The gist of the sketch is Tourette’s Syndrome being used as an excuse for their career-ending indiscretions. Host and Heated Rivalry star Connor Storrie, who played Armie Hammer, joked:
“Not many people know this, but one of the most common side effects of Tourette’s is cannibalism.”
He added a few remarks about drinking girls’ blood and “gnawing the meat off [their] bones,” before adding:
“But since it’s Tourette’s I guess I have to be forgiven, if not celebrated.”
Yeesh…
Kenan Thompson, posing as Bill Cosby, added:
“Immediately after the BAFTAs, I talked to the doctors, and the scientists, and the lawyers, and they agreed that apparently you can suffer from something called ‘drink Tourrette’s.’”
As we know, Cosby is currently in prison after being convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting victims.
The SNL sketch was cut from the televised broadcast for time (that’s the official answer, anyway), but it was later shared online. You can watch (below):
On X (Twitter), critics made their disapproval VERY well known:
“that SNL tourette’s sketch is disgusting i’ve been pissed off all day”
“The response to the whole tourettes bafta controversy by snl and other award ceremonies shows once again how society is regressing. SNL stopped being funny quite a while ago. Of course i dont approve of that word but you cant control tourettes”
“The SNL sketch on tourettes was NOT funny. Call me too woke idgaf. Tourettes is no joke. And I’m so disappointed in SNL and everyone involved with the sketch. Including connor storrie. I expected so much better out of him. People with tourettes/tics are getting so much scrutiny and hate for the baftas incident. So for SNL to pile on and mock it is not okay. As a person who loves someone with the medical condition it breaks my heart to think about how it would make them feel. Do better.”
“So I guess it’s ok to make fun of people’s disabilities”
“This isn’t funny at all, and just punches down. Just a complete swing and a miss.”
Charity group Tourette’s Action has since spoken out with a scathing statement:
“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. Tourette’s is a complex neurological condition, of which there is no cure. It is not a joke. 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.”
What are YOUR thoughts on this controversy, Perezcious readers? Be sure to let us know in the comments down below.
[Images via BoshTV/StudiocanalUK/NBC/YouTube, & MEGA/WENN]
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