Brett Cooper — Black Actors Call for Man With Tourette's To Be Segregated | Episode 144

All right, so if you all thought that the era of BLM was over, think again because in the name of oppression and racism, wealthy black actors chose to spend their Sunday making fun of a man for his disability. And I have had it. I am over it. And I know that we say this all the time, but like this is really rich coming from the party of diversity and inclusion. When you guys came up with all this DEI stuff, you really should have been more honest about the oppression Olympics and who was actually being prioritized, who was actually being included.

Because when I try to be optimistic, when I try to think that these bored victim-seeking people just can't stoop any lower, they consistently surprise me. Now, if you haven't already, make sure that you are subscribed to the channel. Leave a like if you enjoyed this episode. And if you want to stay up to date on every single thing that we upload on the channel, make sure to ring that notification bell. Also, you can find information about my live events over at cooper.com.

And if you want behind-the-scenes content and farm blogs and all that sort of thing, that will be over at cooperconfidential.com. All right, now, before I get all riled up here and start yelling about things, I do want to take a second to acknowledge everything that is happening in Iran right now because I have seen some comments and gotten DMs of people asking about my take and my thoughts and what I'm going to be doing an episode on it.

And I want to let you guys know that I am working on an episode, but it will not be today. Like this issue is incredibly complex. This entire conflict is complex. The outrage is so hot on both sides, both sides of the right and also both sides of just our general political spectrum. And in my opinion, we are just not getting any kind of consistent or honest information about what is going on. So, I personally do not feel ready.

For example, we are being told that it is not a regime change war, but also change is underway. We are told that the US needed to do this for our security because Iran is a threat to us and we had premeditated this. We know, we knew that this was going to happen, but then Rubio is also telling members of our government that we only did it because Israel was going to do it first, so we needed to jump on board. We're also told that it's because of the nuclear facilities, but we were told that we eradicated those back in the spring.

It's just like, I guess that in and of itself is a story, but I just want to take a minute and see what happens and sit with it because I am struggling to muddle through all of that. So, I want to make sure I'm actually giving you guys accurate information and I'm not just reacting out of emotion. And so, I do plan on having a more in-depth conversation about it, but I'm working on collecting those thoughts. If you would like a teaser on that, I did do an episode on Tourette's last month.

You can go watch that if you kind of want to understand maybe where I'm going to be coming from. But anyway, today I want to talk about something that I have collected my thoughts on. I have collected my thoughts on the issue of rich black American actors ACTING LIKE THEY ARE BACK in the Jim Crow era because a man with Tourette's had an outburst in front of them. >> I'm going to say the N-word. I thought about it and I have a lot to say.

All right, so actor Michael B. Jordan, another actor named Delroy Lindo, were presenting an award. And seemingly out of nowhere, from somewhere in the audience, a man yelled out the N-word. Here is that video. Just watch. Uh Delroy and I are delighted to be presenting the first BAFTA of the night for a vital part of movie making. We're here to uh celebrate >> was the video. 5 seconds long. That was a TMZ clip I played you.

They bleeped it out, but you can see there was an outburst. The men obviously were like, "Oh, what happened?" And then people moved on. But the internet does not move on so quickly. All right, so the man who shouted out that word is named John Davidson. And he is probably the most famous Tourette's advocate in the world. And he was there for his film called I Swear. [snorts] This is a film that he executive produced.

He is the subject of the film. It is about his life. It's based on his written memoir. And the BAFTAs, at the top of the show, they went out of their way to tell people that John was in the room. That they were going to be celebrating his film been nominated for a tons of awards. It like it swept the award show, by the way. The the guy who played him in the movie even won best actor. But they were preparing people. They said, "Hey, John is here.

We're excited to have him. We are including him. We are being inclusive. We want to let you know you might hear outbursts and that is who's doing it and and it's okay." Now, even though there was that disclaimer, people are acting like this outburst was a hate crime. They are claiming that this man with Tourette's is actually a racist and that Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan are the real victims in this story. I mean, spare me the outrage.

I am over it. Like this man, John Davidson, he has spent his entire life advocating and educating people on Tourette's only to have the world turn around and attack him for a tic that he cannot control. It is disgusting and it is disgraceful. Now, to dive into this story and the internet reaction, first of all, a lot of people online are blaming the BAFTAs for this because the BAFTAs were not streamed live, so they are saying, "You guys and the BBC who streamed it, you should have cut that moment out."

But apparently, the producers never heard it. I don't know how, but they didn't notice it, so they didn't cut it out. Somebody commented and said, "A pre-recorded slur is not an accident. BAFTA had time, time to review, time to edit, time to decide what the world would and would not see." And that is why this moment landed the way it did for so many black folks. Yes, Tourette's syndrome is real, it deserves understanding, but acknowledging that does not erase the historical weight of the N-word that ultimately went out to millions of people in a pre-recorded broadcast.

Now, this is fair, I guess, but like I'm reading this tweet and I'm like, "Why do we have to act like a man with a disability having a tic yelling out a word accidentally is this triggering to people at home? Like are you all genuinely that soft?" The answer is yes, yes, they are. I mean, literally, watch this. The events this weekend um exposed a couple things. Institutionally, we still don't understand what inclusion means.

Just because you invite someone into a space, but you don't provide the necessary resources to keep them and everyone else in that room safe by them being there, that's not inclusivity. That's exploitation. >> I'm so tired of this like therapy politically correct speak. The resources, we're not keeping everybody safe. It's words. They are words. They're words that people say all day long. It's a disability that that man is there to bring awareness to.

We didn't have the resources. They told you all at the top of the show that he was going to be there. Was that not enough? What more did you want? Well, we're going to get to what actually they wanted, which was incredibly disgusting. But anyway, but you're claiming that this is about inclusivity. Like I'm sorry, but real inclusivity is welcoming this outsider, welcoming this man into your Hollywood space, recognizing that he has a neurological disorder, that he has spent his entire life navigating, that he has spent his entire professional life educating people on.

Inclusivity and genuine care and compassion is knowing that this man being in a new environment, being surrounded by a lot of stimulants might be set maybe even chuckle, helps spare him the embarrassment that he is obviously feeling. But no, no. That guys, that's too compassionate. That's that's just too much. No, it actually is about everyone else's experiences. Like this. I want to hear your take on what happened with the Baptiste.

>> take, I was there and it was painful to have that celebration kind of really tainted for me. Oh, tainted for you. Yes, it truly is all about you. So painful that this award show where you were being celebrated that it was tainted. Oh, yes, you endured so much. Now, in that same interview, this actress she goes on to say that she does have no hard feelings towards John Davidson, but you can kind of tell that it is clearly an afterthought, which I think it is in most of these interviews.

Like after this outburst took place, this poor man, he got up and he left the auditorium. He left before he got to see his life's work and film be recognized and awarded because he was so humiliated, because he felt so awful, because he was so embarrassed. He removed himself from the situation to protect these other people, to protect himself from any more humiliation, and they are still, days later, giving interviews saying how painful it was to that.

And yes, I agree, probably would have been best for the Baptiste and the BBC to cut out that moment to spare everyone involved the internet drama, but they didn't. So now we have to deal with the reality at hand. Here we are, and millions of gross people online are piling on him. Like just listen to this filth. One person commented and said, "Stop hiding behind excuses. Tourette's does not erase impact. Tourette's does not erase history.

Tourette's does not erase the fact that the N-word carries centuries of violent, humiliation, and dehumanization. The harm doesn't disappear just because people feel uncomfortable confronting it. Intent and impact are not the same thing, and black people are the ones who live with the impact. Maybe you should try exercising some personal responsibility for yourself and your own reactions. That impact you're talking about, you can choose how you react.

You can choose how you are impacted by things. Even if it's not privately, you can choose publicly. You can publicly choose not to pile on to a man who is being attacked by the internet, who spent his entire life dealing with suicidal thoughts because of the reaction to his neurological disorder. Like it's really that simple. Personal responsibility. I know it's a crazy thought for a lot of you folks, but maybe you should try it.

All right, anyway, somebody else commented and said, "Stop giving us an effing statement and get the guy who said the word. Get his ass up and make him apologize. You are all full of shit." Yeah, real inclusive. It's the party of love and tolerance. Oh, love, compassion. I MEAN LIKE GOD. OH, I'M SO IT'S JUST like How many years of this do we need to endure? It's like it's insane. And like I mean, call me cynical, maybe this is where I'm blackpilled, but I think the people would have been pissed either way.

Like if they had edited it out, you would have said that they were protecting the white man. Like I don't even know. It never ends. But either way, unfortunately, everyone online immediately started calling him a racist and what is far more disgusting to me than just random trolls online is that celebrities, even people who were in that room with him, started egging this on. For example, Jamie Foxx commented on one of the videos of the incident and said, "Out of all the words you could have said, Tourette's makes you say that?

Nah, he meant that Unacceptable." But then, this was probably the worst here. Charlamagne, the big podcast host, he feels that actually Jon Davidson should not have been let in the room so that other people could have been protected from him. I actually think the word he's looking for there is segregation. Just take a listen. The reality is he shouldn't have been in the room. If a person has a condition that makes him scream out inappropriate, obscene, or taboo words, why risk having him in the room?

There are people that networks wouldn't think about putting on TV, especially live TV, because they have no idea what they might say. >> Yeah, again, real inclusive. Guys, when I watched that clip for the first time, I wish you could have heard the expletives that came out of my mouth. I possibly have never felt such disgust. Like, to tone it down, I will just say that Charlamagne, you are an elitist, discriminatory piece of crap who sits on a throne propped up by superficial allegations of oppression.

It's your throne of lies, your throne of victimhood. So, spare me your black fragility. Like, I'm done. Spare me your outrage over hearing a word that you all say, that you all sing, that you all rap and post daily. I'm done. You claim that all of this is about tolerance and inclusivity, representation, and then you literally want a man excluded from an award show where he is being celebrated for his work, for his film, because he makes you feel uncomfortable, because you are choosing to let him make you feel uncomfortable?

You're disgusting. Like, that is That's just gross. Now, like I said, John, after this outburst, he left the ceremony soon after. And in an interview with Variety, you just have to hear what he says, because it is so heartbreaking. He says, "I have been physically beaten to within an inch of my life with an iron bar after taking a comment to a young woman whose boyfriend and accomplice ambushed me one evening. The real challenge isn't the tics themselves, but the misconception surrounding them.

Understanding the full range of Tourette's helps reduce stigma and supports everyone living with the condition. When socially unacceptable words come out, the guilt and shame on the part of the person with the condition is often unbearable and causes enormous distress. I cannot begin to explain how upset and distraught I have been as the impact from Sunday sinks in." So, like, this man is already feeling embarrassed and humiliated.

He feels awful for what he did to other people, making them feel uncomfortable, and these vile individuals think that it's right to just pile on to him because of their moral or racial superiority. It like, are you guys okay? Are you physically okay? Because I think you guys need to go get checked out by my friends over Jevity, because something is not right. Because Jevity will get your mind right. Now, between having an infant and breastfeeding and running a farm and doing the show, I feel white 24/7 and I know that I am nutritionally depleted, but it doesn't have to be that way.

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And maybe those angry commenters, the people in the room, the rich actresses and actors, maybe they would know that if they took the time to watch his movie, read his book, see any of his interviews. Because this is how John himself describes the condition. That's one of the parts of the condition where especially with the vocalizations, we are not racist, we are not sexist, we are not perverts or anything. But what comes out is the almost taboo, the worst thing we could say.

Yeah. And we'd worry in case if I shout black man, in case it offends you. But we don't want to offend you, but it's because we worry in case it maybe does. So it makes us do it. >> And that point there that John made is so important because Tourette's really is a form of OCD. He's thinking about all of the taboo and inappropriate things that he could say. He's like, I can't say it, I can't say it. And because that's racing through his mind in kind of an OCD way, he barks it out.

Because he's so worried and concerned with not saying it that it that it just comes out. Look, it honestly seems pretty simple to comprehend. But if watching that clip was too much effort, if watching the movie was too much effort, literally would have taken these individuals 10 seconds to look up Tourette's and the specific kind that John has to understand what happens in his brain and how he cannot control it. And I'm sorry, folks, but like this outburst, his tics, they are not about you.

You are not the only person he has ever yelled at. Like in fact, back in 2019, John was being presented with an MBE award from the Queen of England. And during the ceremony, he screamed out, "F the Queen." And actually, this scene is now in his new movie. Just watch. the Queen. Sorry everyone. Sorry. So that is a true story. However, the Queen of England had a very different response than these actors and actresses.

In one interview, John said, "I began ticking and shouting, and I was absolutely mortified. But then I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was one of the royal archers, the Queen's bodyguards. A voice said, "Don't stress. She knows all about your condition." That to me was huge because I've struggled so much with everyday life, with people misunderstanding. And if the Queen of the United Kingdom can understand and ignore the ticks and the swear words, then why can't the rest of society?

You know what? That's a great question. Why can't you all learn? Why can't you all just ignore it and let it roll off your shoulders? Maybe have a chuckle about it, like I'm sure the Queen of England did after the ceremony was done and she was enjoying her cup of tea with million corgis. Like the woman had a great sense of humor. You all could learn from her. Because I guarantee the Queen of England did not turn around and condemn him and make him the butt of all of her jokes at a ceremony 7 days later.

Which is exactly what this cohort of actors and actresses did because Saturday night, this Saturday night, so 7 days later, was the NAACP Awards and this is how they started off the show. Just watch. Before we go, Lord, if there any white man out here in the audience, Lord, with Tourette's, I advise you to tell them they better read the room tonight, Lord. >> [applause] >> It might not go the way they think it will.

Whatever medicine they on, they better double up on it, Lord. I mean, it's just disgusting. You could have still gone on stage made a light hearted joke about it, but you could have taken that as an opportunity to find common ground. Because that entire comment was laced with this threatening disdain and a total lack of understanding and empathy. Like how many times do we have to say that John could read the room all night long and not be able to control it?

And that you would prefer that he just medicates himself or stays away, gets out of your presence so that you feel safe? Again, it's just disgusting. But it didn't stop there because the jokes ended and then the oppression Olympics began. One actress in particular got up on stage and said this. I'd also to just take a moment to the two kings who are in this audience and just send you so much love for your class and that is um Michael B.

Jordan and um and Delroy Lindo. >> [applause and cheering] [cheering] [applause] >> Oh, and this is really where it gets good. All right, so now everybody starts standing up. There's a standing ovation. We're This is a 2-minute clip. Applause. Applause. Oh, yes. Thank you, my kings. Like, why was there a standing ovation? For what? For those two men doing nothing? Being in the presence of a man with a known disability?

Like, where is the standing ovation for the man who is probably extremely embarrassed? Who is humiliated? Who is devastated over feeling like he ruined the night for his film, for his work? Who probably feels let down and misunderstood? Where is the standing ovation for him? Somebody commented and said, "You know lads, I'm not entirely sure that a white Scottish community center caretaker with a profound disability living in one of the poorest areas of the UK is actually more privileged than two famous, perfectly healthy African-American millionaire celebrities."

Boom. There you have it. But guys, that still was not all. Because then Delroy himself got back on stage and he made it seem like he had endured a hate crime. Just watch. Thank you. [clears throat] Thank you. Uh before we start, I just like to uh officially say that we appreciate I appreciate we appreciate all the support and the love that we've been shown in the aftermath of what happened last weekend. It means a lot to us.

It is a honor to be here amongst our people this evening. Oh, yes. Thank goodness. You are around your people. Certainly no one will be saying the N-word in that room. I'm over it. I'm I'm not kidding. I am so over it. The aftermath, as if this was some like earth-shattering event. It should have been a nothing burger. You should have been able to laugh and move on. Say, John, it is okay. I totally understand. Let's move on.

Guys, let's like let's tone it down. Let's help him. But no, you're egging the entire thing on. Now, this comment under that video, it was hysterical but so real. This guy said, "The aftermath of what happened last weekend, a dyslexic or whatever guy shouted an insult. We are the softest people ever to live. Did you need therapy? Did you have to talk to your mind healer about the crisis, millionaire?" LITERALLY. AND WHAT'S EVEN crazier is the people online who saw clips of this on X who are now triggered by background outbursts that they hear on a live stream of an award show that they definitely weren't watching to begin with.

Like the people leaving angry comments, they were not at home on Sunday night watching the BAFTAs. They certainly were not. Like we have people in therapy holding space over the US men's hockey team. I really hoped that 2026 would be better, but apparently it's not. Here we are. Thankfully, common sense decent people online are taking all of these a-holes to town, which I appreciate. One guy commented and said, "So, let me get this straight.

A guy with Tourette's, a mental condition who cannot control what he says, says a word that has been used so often in black pop culture, including hip-hop, that it has become part of the pop culture vernacular for over a generation. And these fragile actors act as if they have been through a vicious assault. It is a word, and it only has power if you give it power. And I'm old enough to remember when the black community defended the repeated use of the word because they wanted to take back control of the word.

So much for that." It's a great point. If you need a standing ovation because of a word that you gave power to, then you are delicate and privileged. Again, mic-drop moment. Every part of that was facts. And then this excerpt from an Irish article about the entire scandal was just so great as well. This author wrote, "I don't know how better you demonstrate that Western culture has come to prize victimhood status more than actual compassion than with the scenario in which a man with the uncontrollable Tourette's syndrome involuntarily shouts a racial slur at two black men presenting an award on live TV and ends up getting bucket loads of abuse for it anyway.

And it's especially ironic considering the man was there celebrating a film that he made about how isolating and lonely it is to live with his condition. How misunderstood he feels. That was the entire reason he wrote his memoir. That was the entire goal of the film. That's why it resonated with so many people. And the people screaming about it online, these fragile actors making jokes, thanking everybody for having to endure this, they seem to have completely missed the point.

But to be honest and to be totally fair, it's not just the angry black celebrities online because SNL as well fed into it. Look at the skit that they did on Saturday night. Hi, I'm Mel Gibson. And as I probably should have pointed out decades ago, I too suffer from Tourette's. Which explains a lot of the things I've said or yelled through the years. Am I proud of what I said? No. But I am very proud for you to know it was because of Tourette's.

Fortunately, I'm not alone. Hi beauties, I'm Armie Hammer. And not many people know this, but one of the most common side effects of Tourette's is cannibalism. >> [cheering] >> You could be casually DMing with a girl and suddenly the Tourette's takes over and you're typing stuff like I'm literally going to eat you. And she's like LOL, what? And you're like, I'm [music] not LOLing or ROFLing. I'm going to drink your blood and gnaw the meat off your ribs like I'm at an Applebee's.

But [laughter] since it's Tourette's, I guess I have to be forgiven if not celebrated. >> [laughter] >> Thanks, medicine. Immediately after the bastard I talked to the doctors and the scientists and the lawyers. And they agreed that the parent they could suffer from something called the drink Tourette's. [music] So, you say I try to order the diet coke. >> So, the joke is that people like Bill Cosby, they actually just have Tourette's.

And if they just diagnose themselves with Tourette's, then they can be celebrated. That line that the Armie Hammer actor said was probably the most honest part of that skit. The obvious disdain they were feeling over John Davidson and people with Tourette's being celebrated and accepted. Somebody with Tourette's commented under SNL's post and said, "As a Tourette's sufferer, I find this staggeringly offensive. In fact, it was extremely difficult watching the entire video.

You mock an entire section of the disabled community just for cheap entertainment. You want us to be the butt of your jokes because we're different. Consider this gate would be rewritten along the same lines but with cerebral palsy replacing Tourette's, or spina bifida, Down syndrome maybe. Would then it be funny? No, of course not. And the thing is, I am and I think most people online are we're not saying that you can't joke about this, that you can't find it funny.

I actually think that humor is one of the best medicines and brings people together. But you can find that humor without punching down. In fact, literally 20 years ago before the world became insane, back in season 11, South Park did an entire Tourette's episode that the Tourette's Association of America even came out and said was really well done and researched and was actually funny. Like this right here is how you can be funny do an entire episode on this disorder and still be funny, point at absurdity and things that are objectively hilarious while still being understanding.

Here's a clip. Principal Victoria, it's just that Eric has become such a distraction. I I don't think I can teach my class anymore. I understand it's been difficult, Mrs. Garrison. And so, Mr. Donaldson has come from the Tourette's Tolerance and Understanding Foundation. Hello, Mrs. Garrison. Ass. Ass. I want to help your class better understand this illness. PISS. NO, UP YOUR FAT BOY. KYLE, PLEASE. I'M SORRY. PRINCIPAL VICTORIA, THERE'S SOMETHING you need to know.

Cartman's Tourette's isn't real. He's faking. Faking? You think people with Tourette's are faking? No, I'm just saying that I think >> have any idea how horrible that is TO SAY? ASS. ASS. WE AREN'T FAKING, YOUNG MAN. Trust me, nobody wants this illness. ASS. PISS. PISS. THAT'S RIGHT, KYLE. Crap-filled vagina. That is objectively funny. It is humorous. It is just life and it is enjoyable, but there is also a deeper meaning there.

That entire scene is meaningful, it is full of empathy and understanding, but you can't help but laugh because it's so ridiculous. Like the entire situation is like so many things in life that are serious, that do carry weight, are funny. And if you're not laughing, you're crying, but you can laugh with good intentions and not be malicious, which is what most of these people online have been doing. Now, one man in Pace magazine revisited that episode from South Park a few years ago, and he said, "South Park effing got it.

Unlike other shows that portray Tourette's from the outside looking in, Le Petit Tourette actually took the time to ask, 'What is it like to live your life with a disease that most people just don't understand or care to?'" And after all of that, Le Petit Tourette is still South Park. It is unafraid to find the shock humor in two young boys derailing a TV broadcast by catfishing a stream of pedophiles all of whom off themselves in front of the studio audience when they see Chris Hansen waiting for them, or a grown man periodically interrupting his monologue about tolerance to shout, "Piss out my ass!"

Even when the jokes take a crack at people like me, however, I don't mind. Sometimes a good punchline is the best way to make people look. But, the best punchlines in this situation are not laid in with accusations of racism. So, no. To go back to what that host was saying at the end of the NAACP Awards, I don't think that it was John that needed to read the room that night. I think it was all of you guys, because your knee-jerk reaction is to claim that you're oppressed, that everyone is out to get you, that we need to segregate and discriminate to make you feel safe, and you do it all from your millionaire ivory towers.

This entire display over the last 8 days has been disgusting. But, you know, the good thing is, the one positive thing that has come out of the story is that more and more people online are seeing through your vapid BS, the BS that has been derailing our society, honestly, our entire culture for the last 10 years. So, thank you for the wake-up call. >> [music] [music]