#coprolalia

(For anyone who doesn't know, the subject of a movie about living with severe Tourette Syndrome was in the audience at the awards and had a tic of saying the n word slur while two Black awards nominees were presenting)

Two things can be true at once.

This man deserves to be at an awards show where a movie about his life had been nominated. He does not deserve to be "physically gagged" as some people on social media have said. He does not deserve the harassment he is currently receiving. He was having coprolalia (swearing) tics throughout the show at various presenters, and did excuse himself from the audience after having the n word tic.

And the two Black presenters did not deserve to be humiliated on what was supposed to be one of the greatest nights of their lives. Any and all reactions they (or any Black person that was at the event or watching the awards at home) have to having the most offensive racial slur shouted while they were on stage are valid and should not be judged.

It is my personal belief that the man should apologize. As people with Tourette Syndrome, we know our tics hurt people regardless of their involuntary nature. Apologizing for the pain that tics cause is the right thing to do in this situation and it's not ableist to say that.

Obviously having the n word shouted at you on stage isn't nice. Of course it isn't. It's very unpleasant and uncomfortable and is a word with intensely strong history, connotations, and sensitivity. I would also be shocked if I heard that word whilst on stage. I don't doubt that. I think, a clear educational warning should've been included, everyone could have been informed of the presence of someone with Tourettes, and if an apology is to be delivered, it should be respectful, thoughtful, and educational, because as I say below, some tics are offensive and shocking and hurtful, and absolutely okay to be hurt by them, whether it's a physical or a vocal tic. But we have to remember that a hurtful tic does not reflect the values and beliefs of the person with the tics.

I no longer apologise for having this condition. But if I do or say something as a tic that is still inherently hurtful - if I punch someone really hard, if I say something frightening, if I scream around a friend who is sensitive to sound, if I say something offensive to someone - I say sorry because that thing as it is is or could be hurtful to/for that person.

Racism and Tourette syndrome are not the same thing, and it's shocking how many people in these comment sections keep asking "how does he even know the n word? It's disgusting that he even knows it" How do YOU know that word? You have choice in whether you say it or not. Individuals who have Coprolalia do not. How many of these people show their faces when it's a homophobic, transphobic, ableist, sexist slur?

For the record: Tourette Syndrome tics can occur due to very specific triggers and stressors, which may seem purposeful to those who do not understand. For example, shouting bomb or that you have drugs at an airport, or saying a homophobic slur to a gay person. They DO NOT reflect the person's values.

I have the n word as a tic. I unfortunately have had it for a long time. It terrifies me. I've also had very loud tics, bomb and drug related tics, homophobic and transphobic tics, sexist tics, generally threatening sounding tics. I do not choose my tics and they are not based off of my thoughts or beliefs or values. I hate them. I really hate them. You have no idea how much I want rid of them.

The internet's reaction just confirms that we're still, despite this film (I Swear), SO far from disability acceptance. So far from people understanding that disabilities are not funny, cute, or quirky, or things to be made fun of or joked about. They are uncomfortable, shocking, ugly, horrible, difficult to live with, and upsetting.

You think disabled people should be segregated