RichTok Influencer Becca Bloom Responds to 'Backlash' Over Her Video Saying Men Should Pay for Dates Luke ChinmanTue, February 24, 2026 at 5:40 PM UTC 0 Becca Bloom Stephane Cardinale Corbis/Corbis via Getty Becca Bloom addressed a video in which she said she believed men should pay for dates In the original video, the content creator said that men paying for dates accounts for the ways women are financially disadvantaged in other aspects of their lives In a new Substack essay, Bloom suggested that she received criticism for her video because she's a woman Becca Bloom is addressing backlash af...

RichTok Influencer Becca Bloom Responds to 'Backlash' Over Her Video Saying Men Should Pay for Dates

Luke ChinmanTue, February 24, 2026 at 5:40 PM UTC

0

Becca Bloom

Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty

Becca Bloom addressed a video in which she said she believed men should pay for dates

In the original video, the content creator said that men paying for dates accounts for the ways women are financially disadvantaged in other aspects of their lives

In a new Substack essay, Bloom suggested that she received criticism for her video because she's a woman

Becca Bloom is addressing backlash after sharing her opinion on dates.

In an essay titled "Women in the Public Eye Can't Do Anything" published to her Substack on Feb. 23, the content creator — known as the reigning queen of RichTok for showing off her luxurious lifestyle online — revealed that she has received the most "backlash" to a video she made in November in which she asserted that "men should pay on dates."

In the original video, Bloom said that many men believe that "equality" in a relationship means "splitting the bill" on dates, but noted that women often earn less than their male counterparts in the workplace and spend more than on grooming and beauty to meet beauty standards for women.

"Men only remember the word 'equality' when it benefits them financially," said the content creator, suggesting that men paying for dates accounts for the ways women are financially disadvantaged in other aspects of their lives. "Suddenly you want equality when the bill hits the table."

Becca Bloom and David Pownall

Becca Bloom/Instagram

Added the creator: "You cannot cherry-pick equality only in moments where it allows you to contribute less. So, yes, my husband pays all the bills. And yes, I think that's the bare minimum."

In her Substack essay, she said that most of the criticism she received from the video took issue with the fact that she comes from a wealthy family, not with the argument itself.

"They went after me because they could not go after the reasoning," wrote Bloom.

Advertisement

The influencer went on to suggest that the backlash she received to her initial video was likely in part because she is a woman, stipulating that female content creators are disproportionately the "target" of "entire ecosystems dedicated to dissecting their morality."

"When women speak about standards, the reaction is not curiosity," she wrote. "It is correction."

Bloom is no stranger to sharing the occasional contentious opinion, especially when it comes to her relationship with her husband, David Pownall, whom she wed in a viral 2025 wedding.

David Pownall and Becca Bloom

Monica Schipper/Getty

In November, she sat down with Pownall to reveal some of her most "controversial" relationship rules — including not talking negatively about each other to other people, that Pownall compliments Bloom for "an hour straight" every week, and that he "pays for everything" in their relationship.

— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"But isn't that the bare minimum?" Pownall said to his wife in the clip. "Because your time is really valuable."

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Entertainment"

Read More

---

Source: Entertainment

Published: 2026-02-24T18:00:59Z on Source: MANUEL MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

&x27;Heated Rivalry&x27; author Rachel Reid pushes back &x27;Unrivaled&x27; release Greta Cross, USA TODAYTue, February 24, 2026 at 5:29 PM UTC 0 "Heated Rivalry" fans will need to wait a bit longer for their next update on Shane and Ilya. Rachel Reid, author of the popular "Game Changer" book series, announced in an Instagram post on Feb. 24 that she and her publisher, Harlequin Books, are pushing back the release date for "Unrivaled" to June 1, 2027. Initially intended to publish on Sept.

'Heated Rivalry' author Rachel Reid pushes back 'Unrivaled' release

Greta Cross, USA TODAYTue, February 24, 2026 at 5:29 PM UTC

0

"Heated Rivalry" fans will need to wait a bit longer for their next update on Shane and Ilya.

Rachel Reid, author of the popular "Game Changer" book series, announced in an Instagram post on Feb. 24 that she and her publisher, Harlequin Books, are pushing back the release date for "Unrivaled" to June 1, 2027. Initially intended to publish on Sept. 29, 2026, the book is the seventh in the "Game Changer" series, which explores queer relationships among hockey players. "Unrivaled" is the third book centered around rivals and lovers Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, the main characters in the record-breaking television show, "Heated Rivalry."

In a heartfelt video to fans, Reid said the past few months have been "absolutely incredible," busy and also overwhelming, providing less time for her to write than she would like.

"I think when good things happen, sometimes the universe hands you some worse stuff to balance it out and for me, that's been that my Parkinson's symptoms have gotten a bit worse and it's made it difficult physically to write, so I'm definitely a lot slower and that's just something I need to learn how to navigate and kind of face, instead of ignoring," Reid said. "I do think this book will be worth the wait. Ultimately, it's going to be a much better book and that's the most important thing to me."

"Unrivaled" pre-orders will still be honored, Reid said. The author also mentioned that some exciting announcements will be coming later in the week, which she hopes makes it up to eager readers.

1 / 0See 'Heated Rivalry' stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie in photosConnor Storrie, left, and Hudson Williams attend the premiere of "Heated Rivalry" at TIFF Lightbox on Nov. 24, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario.

Entertainment: Hudson Williams' life before 'Heated Rivalry,' according to his friends

Following release announcement, fans pour love

Reid apologized several times in her video, to both readers and bookstores, who may have been making plans for the September release date. But fans have only showed their support for the latest announcement.

Advertisement

"Rachel, we love you and we'll wait until the book is ready. Take all the time you need and take care of yourself," one Instagram user commented on Reid's video. Another wrote: "Take your time queen, we're not going anywhere!"

Others poked fun at other series that had fans waiting for long periods of time.

"It will be worth the wait. Some of us are still waiting for 'Game of Thrones' Book 6 (and 7) patiently," an Instagram user commented. "A wee delay for 'Unrivaled' – we can handle! I can only imagine how overwhelming the global demand and intense interest must be. Take care of you."

First announced in 2010, "The Winds of Winter," the long-awaited sixth book in the "Game of Thrones" series, has yet to receive a release date.

What is 'Unrivaled' about?

In "Unrivaled," former hockey rivals Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov are out, married and playing on the same hockey team. Though the players (and lovers) have largely received support from family, friends and fans, some are still not happy about their years-long secret relationship.

"Unrivaled" author Rachel Reid said in an announcement on Feb. 24 that the seventh book of the "Game Changer" series will publish on June 1, 2027.Use the extra time to catch up

Interested in reading the full "Game Changer" series before "Unrivaled" drops next year? Here's the list of books in order of storyline:

"Game Changer"

"Heated Rivalry" (Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov introduced)

"Tough Guy"

"Common Goal"

"Role Model"

"The Long Game" (second book about Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov)

"Unrivaled" (coming June 2027)

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Heated Rivalry' author Rachel Reid pushes release date of next book

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Entertainment"

Read More

---

Source: Entertainment

Published: 2026-02-24T18:01:02Z on Source: MANUEL MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

Sarah Ferguson Asked Epstein&x27;s Advice About Children&x27;s Charity When He Was in Jail for Child Prostitution Charge, Emails Suggest Janine HenniTue, February 24, 2026 at 5:40 PM UTC 0 (Left) Sarah Ferguson in Cannes, France on July 22, 2024; (Right) Jeffrey Epstein in New York City on May 18, 2005 Marc Piasecki/WireImage; Neil Rasmus/Patrick McMullan via Getty Sarah Ferguson is believed to have asked Jeffrey Epstein's advice about how to promote a children's charity when he was in jail for solicitation of prostitution with a minor The email was revealed in the latest dump of Epstein files...

Sarah Ferguson Asked Epstein's Advice About Children's Charity When He Was in Jail for Child Prostitution Charge, Emails Suggest

Janine HenniTue, February 24, 2026 at 5:40 PM UTC

0

(Left) Sarah Ferguson in Cannes, France on July 22, 2024; (Right) Jeffrey Epstein in New York City on May 18, 2005

Marc Piasecki/WireImage; Neil Rasmus/Patrick McMullan via Getty

Sarah Ferguson is believed to have asked Jeffrey Epstein's advice about how to promote a children's charity when he was in jail for solicitation of prostitution with a minor

The email was revealed in the latest dump of Epstein files released by the U.S. Department of Justice on Jan. 30

Ferguson's ex-husband, the former Prince Andrew, was arrested last week as authorities investigate a claim that he shared confidential information with the late Epstein while serving as a trade envoy for the U.K.

Emails suggest that Sarah Ferguson asked Jeffrey Epstein for advice about how to promote a children's charity when he was in prison for solicitation of prostitution, including with a minor.

According to an email released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on Jan. 30 relating to the ongoing Epstein investigation, Ferguson and the financier emailed one another about the matter when he was serving his jail sentence in 2009.

Though the sender's email address was redacted in the DOJ file, the Daily Mail reported that Ferguson was the sender. The email that kicked off the chain addressed the recipient as "Your Royal Highness" and referenced a meeting at Royal Lodge, the Windsor home where Ferguson and her ex-husband, the former Prince Andrew, lived.

On July 4, 2009, Amr A. Al-Dabbagh of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority sent an email to a redacted recipient, thanking the person for a meeting at Royal Lodge and discussing the work of the Stars Foundation.

(Left) Sarah Ferguson in Forte dei Marmi, Italy on July 28, 2025; (Right) Jeffrey Epstein.

Daniele Venturelli/Getty; Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getty

"Your Royal Highness," the message began. "I was very honored to have met you at the Royal Lodge, and I must thank you again for the two lovely books you signed for my daughters. They were so excited they carried them off to read over the summer holidays and I haven't seen any sign of either the books or the girls since."

Ferguson is an author who has published over 50 books, including several children's books, and Al-Dabbagh then turned to the work of the Stars Foundation he founded.

"As I mentioned, I founded the Stars Foundation and we look after disadvantaged children in areas of health, education and protection in the U5MR countries and one of our channels is Mums for Mums, which offers training opportunities for destitute mothers (inc. income generation activities, business skills & revolving loan fund), childcare, reproductive health training, family nutrition advice (using cactus), support for Orphans & Vulnerable Children (OVCs)," he wrote.

"I thought I'd let you know cause it's dealing with mothers in a certain segment that Mother Unite may not cover," he continued, sharing a link to the website for the organization, which ceased operations in 2020.

On July 5, 2009, the redacted recipient forwarded the email, and a sender identified as Jeffrey Epstein wrote back about 25 minutes later. At this point, Epstein was in jail in Palm Beach, Florida, after pleading guilty to one count of soliciting prostitution and one count of soliciting prostitution from someone under age 18, PBS reported. He was released on probation on July 22, 2009, after serving 13 months of an 18-month sentence.

Advertisement

In the email exchange, Epstein said to envision a "movie trailer" modeled after "Be All You Can Be," seemingly referencing the U.S. Army recruiting slogan.

"Join the army„ with photos of mothers , not soldiers, breast feeding„ not shooting, reading to a child, not teaching them to shoot a rifle," he said.

Replying, the email user believed to be Ferguson said, "Has anyone told you, you are a genius."

The latest tranche of Epstein files — over three million pages — published by the DOJ seemed to reveal an extensive friendship between Ferguson, 66, and Epstein, who died in prison in New York City in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Emails suggested that Andrew's ex-wife emailed Epstein about bringing her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, to meet him for lunch soon after his release from prison in 2009 and showed that she told him to "Just marry me" in an effusive email in 2010, among other correspondence.

Andrew's ties to Epstein set his step back from public life in motion in November 2019. King Charles' brother has continuously denied any wrongdoing regarding their relationship and was arrested on Feb. 19 on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

(Left) Prince Andrew at the Duchess of Kent's funeral on Sept. 16, 2025; (Right) Men step out of an unmrked car at the home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on Feb. 19, 2026 in Sandringham, Norfolk.

Chris Jackson/Getty; Peter Nicholls/Getty

Police are investigating a claim that the former Duke of York shared confidential information with Epstein during his time as a trade envoy for the U.K. in the 2000s. Andrew, who is now called Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after the King stripped his princely title in October 2025, was released after spending about 11 hours in custody last Thursday, his 66th birthday, and now faces an uncertain future.

Amid the hot spotlight on her ex-husband, the Daily Mail reported on Feb. 21 that Ferguson left Britain and checked into Paracelsus Recovery, a Swiss rehabilitation clinic. PEOPLE has not independently confirmed the report.

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Entertainment"

Read More

---

Source: Entertainment

Published: 2026-02-24T18:00:56Z on Source: MANUEL MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

Author Rachel Reid also signaled &34;some announcements&34; are coming this week &34;about some things that I think people will have been hoping for.&34; New Heated Rivalry book release delayed, author cites 'very busy' life and health issues Author Rachel Reid also signaled &34;some announcements&34; are coming this week &34;about some things that I think people will have been hoping for.&34; By Nick Romano :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/NicholasRomanoauthorphotoadc9b60763e34711935cbf7b3d768d24.jpg) Nick Romano is a senior editor at with 15 years of journalism experience covering entertainment.

Author Rachel Reid also signaled "some announcements" are coming this week "about some things that I think people will have been hoping for."

New Heated Rivalry book release delayed, author cites 'very busy' life and health issues

Author Rachel Reid also signaled "some announcements" are coming this week "about some things that I think people will have been hoping for."

By Nick Romano

Nick Romano is a senior editor at ** with 15 years of journalism experience covering entertainment. His work previously appeared in *Vanity Fair*, Vulture, IGN, and more.

EW's editorial guidelines

February 24, 2026 11:22 a.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Connor Storrie (left) as Ilya Rozanov and Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander on 'Heated Rivalry'. Credit:

Courtesy Bell Media

- *Unrivaled*, the latest *Heated Rivalry *book from Rachel Reid, has been delayed to 2027.

- Reid cited her "very, very busy and overwhelming" reaction to the TV show taking up time, as well as her Parkinson's condition.

- The author signaled "some announcements" are coming later this week.

The ravenous *Heated Rivalry* fandom will have to wait a bit longer for the release of *Unrivaled*, the next book from author Rachel Reid in the Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander romance saga.

Reid shared a video on Instagram announcing that the book had officially moved from its planned Sept. 29 launch this year to June 1, 2027. Multiple reasons are involved, Reid explained in the video.

She describes the newfound *heat* the Canadian TV series adaptation cultivated as "beyond a dream come true," but added, "It's also been very, very busy and overwhelming. My life has gotten very different in the last couple of months, and although it's all good, it's also taken away my ability to have quality time to write. And there's nothing more important to me than *Unrivaled* being the best book it can possibly be."

Reid, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, also shared a health update, noting her symptoms "have gotten a bit worse and it's made it difficult physically to write." She clarified the writing process has been "going well." However, "I just need a little more time," she noted.

To "soften the blow," Reid signaled "some announcements" are coming later this week "about some things that I think people will have been hoping for."

At the very least, it gives newcomers to Reid's MM hockey romance world more time to catch up on the six other books in the *Game Changers* series: *Game Changer*, *Heated Rivalry*, *Tough Guy*, *Common Goal*, *Role Model*, and *The Long Game*.

*Unrivaled* will be the third Shane and Ilya book in the series, following 2022's *The Long Game*.

What's next for the Heated Rivalry breakout stars? Hudson Williams, Connor Storrie land new roles

'Heated Rivalry' stars get even hotter roles in 2026 Olympics

*Heated Rivalry*, the show created for Canada's Crave streamer and released in the U.S. on HBO Max, adapted the main events of Reid's second book, about two rival professional hockey players, Ilya (Connor Storrie) and Shane (Hudson Williams), falling in love in secret off the ice. Season 1 also incorporated storylines from the first book that involved the love story of hockey pro Scott Hunter (François Arnaud) and smoothie barista Kip Grady (Robbie G.K.), as well as the presence of Kyle Swift (Matthew Finlan), a main character from Reid's *Common Goal*.

While the TV series will continue to follow Shane and Ilya in season 2, showrunner Jacob Tierney also teased in recent press the arrival of Troy Barrett, another athlete whose narrative with social media guru Harris Drover is the center of Reid's *Role Model*.

Author Rachel Reid with the cover of 'Unrivaled'.

Caleb Latreille; Harlequin

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

As for *Unrivaled*, Harlequin released a plot synopsis for the next phase of Ilya and Shane's arc.

"A line has been drawn — and the hockey world is divided," it read. "For the first time in their professional hockey careers, Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander have nothing to hide. After more than a decade of keeping their love secret, they're out, married, and even playing on the same team. The support has been incredible. Most of the time. While fans celebrate them, others in the hockey world are still reeling from the reveal. A growing backlash—led by the popular hockey podcast Top Shelf and the #TakeBackHockey movement—is making its presence felt. Standing together in the light was everything Shane and Ilya ever wanted. Now, they may be facing their biggest challenge yet."**

And as for the show, season 2 will start filming later this year with a premiere planned for 2027.

- Romance Books

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Romance"

Read More

---

Source: Romance

Published: 2026-02-24T16:38:47Z on Source: MANUEL MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

Warner Bros gets a new offer from Paramount in heated bidding war for the storied Hollywood studio Tue, February 24, 2026 at 2:40 PM UTC 0 La torre de agua de Warner Bros. en Burbank, California, el 5 de diciembre del 2025. (AP foto/Jae C. Hong) NEW YORK (AP) — Warner Bros. Discovery says it's reviewing a new takeover offer from Paramount but it continues to recommend a competing offer from Netflix to its shareholders. Warner disclosed Tuesday that it had received a revised proposal after a sevenday window to renew talks with Paramount elapsed on Monday.

Warner Bros gets a new offer from Paramount in heated bidding war for the storied Hollywood studio

Tue, February 24, 2026 at 2:40 PM UTC

0

La torre de agua de Warner Bros. en Burbank, California, el 5 de diciembre del 2025. (AP foto/Jae C. Hong)

NEW YORK (AP) — Warner Bros. Discovery says it's reviewing a new takeover offer from Paramount but it continues to recommend a competing offer from Netflix to its shareholders.

Warner disclosed Tuesday that it had received a revised proposal after a seven-day window to renew talks with Paramount elapsed on Monday.

Skydance-owned Paramount confirmed that it had submitted a revised proposal, but did not provide further details on the latest bid. The company was widely expected to have raised its offer price.

Advertisement

A Warner Bros. Discovery buyout would reshape Hollywood and the wider media landscape — bringing HBO Max, cult-favorite titles like "Harry Potter" and, depending on who wins the Netflix v. Paramount tug-a-war, potentially even CNN under a new roof.

Paramount wants to acquire Warner Bros. in its entirety — including networks like CNN and Discovery — and went straight to shareholders with an all-cash, $77.9 billion hostile offer just days after the Netflix deal was announced. Accounting for debt, it previously offered Warner stakeholders $30 per share, amounting to an enterprise value of around $108 billion.

Netflix only wants to buy Warner's studio and streaming business for $72 billion, or about $83 billion including debt.

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Entertainment"

Read More

---

Source: Entertainment

Published: 2026-02-24T15:00:31Z on Source: MANUEL MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

Isaac Hayes&x27; family settles Trump lawsuit over &x27;Hold On, I&x27;m Coming&x27; Anna Kaufman, USA TODAYTue, February 24, 2026 at 2:40 PM UTC 0 The estate of musician Isaac Hayes settled with President Donald Trump following a legal battle over the alleged unauthorized use of his song "Hold On, I'm Coming." "This resolution represents more than the conclusion of a legal matter," the singer's son, Isaac Hayes III, wrote in a statement on behalf of the family on X.

Isaac Hayes' family settles Trump lawsuit over 'Hold On, I'm Coming'

Anna Kaufman, USA TODAYTue, February 24, 2026 at 2:40 PM UTC

0

The estate of musician Isaac Hayes settled with President Donald Trump following a legal battle over the alleged unauthorized use of his song "Hold On, I'm Coming."

"This resolution represents more than the conclusion of a legal matter," the singer's son, Isaac Hayes III, wrote in a statement on behalf of the family on X. "It reaffirms the importance of protecting intellectual property rights and copyrights, especially as they relate to legacy, ownership, and the responsible use of creative works."

The original lawsuit, filed in August 2024, accused Trump of using Hayes' 1966 classic in videos and campaign appearances without permission. The president, then in the midst of a run for the Oval Office, employed the song at least 133 times, the suit alleged, amounting to a copyright violation.

The estate of musician Isaac Hayes reached a settlement with President Donald Trump over a copyright dispute.

"Isaac Hayes, Jr. dedicated his life to his craft, and his contributions to music and culture carry enduring value," the family's statement said. "As stewards of his legacy, we remain committed to ensuring that his work is respected and properly protected.

"We are proud that this matter has helped further a broader conversation surrounding intellectual property rights and the obligation to honor creators and their estates," it continued. "Protecting ownership is not only about the past, it is about preserving dignity, value, and accountability for future generations."

Advertisement

USA TODAY has reached out to the White House for comment.

Hayes, who died at the age of 65 in 2008, co-wrote "Hold On, I'm Coming" with David Porter. While his family's statement did not reveal the price tag for the settlement, it confirmed that the estate was "satisfied with the outcome." The family originally sought $3 million in damages.

This is not the first time Trump has run afoul of a musician for unauthorized use of their art. Hayes' family joins a long list of people who have demanded the president stop using their music at his rallies, including Celine Dion, Beyoncé, Sinéad O'Connor's estate, ABBA, the White Stripes, Prince's estate, The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco and the family of Tom Petty.

Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump settlement – Isaac Hayes' family settles lawsuit over song use

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Entertainment"

Read More

---

Source: Entertainment

Published: 2026-02-24T15:00:33Z on Source: MANUEL MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

The &34;I Swear&34; subject noted that his tics &34;are involuntary and are not a reflection of my personal beliefs.&34; Tourette's activist John Davidson speaks out after saying racial slur at BAFTAs: 'Deeply mortified' The &34;I Swear&34; subject noted that his tics &34;are involuntary and are not a reflection of my personal beliefs.&34; By Shania Russell :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/ShaniaRussellauthorphoto5934b684845d480caa4485648c39ef2b.jpg) Shania Russell Shania Russell is a news writer at , with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

The "I Swear" subject noted that his tics "are involuntary and are not a reflection of my personal beliefs."

Tourette's activist John Davidson speaks out after saying racial slur at BAFTAs: 'Deeply mortified'

The "I Swear" subject noted that his tics "are involuntary and are not a reflection of my personal beliefs."

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

EW's editorial guidelines

February 23, 2026 3:38 p.m. ET

Michael B. Jordan, John Davidson, and Delroy Lindo attend the 2026 BAFTA Awards. Credit:

Joe Maher/BAFTA/Getty; Aurore Marechal/BAFTA/Getty (2)

Tourette syndrome activist John Davidson is breaking his silence after making headlines for shouting a racial slur at the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards,

Davidson, whose life inspired the BAFTA-winning film *I Swear*, is in the news after inadvertently yelling the N-word while *Sinners* stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award during the first half of Sunday's ceremony. In a statement addressing the incident on Monday, Davidson reiterated that his verbal tics and uncontrollable swearing, which are symptoms of Tourette's, are involuntary.

"I wanted to thank BAFTA and everyone involved in the awards last night for their support and understanding and inviting me to attend the broadcast," Davidson began in a statement to Deadline. "I appreciated the announcement to the auditorium in advance of the recording, warning everyone that my tics are involuntary and are not a reflection of my personal beliefs. I was heartened by the round of applause that followed this announcement and felt welcomed and understood in an environment that would normally be impossible for me."

Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo present at the BAFTAs.

Stuart Wilson/BAFTA/Getty

Davidson went on to state that he is and always has been "deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning."

He continued, "I have spent my life trying to support and empower the Tourette's community and to teach empathy, kindness and understanding from others and I will continue to do so."

Davidson additionally noted that he "chose to leave the auditorium early" of his own volition in acknowledgement of "the distress my tics were causing."

** has reached out to representatives for Davidson for comment.

Prior to the start of the ceremony, the event's stage manager introduced Davidson to the audience and alerted attendees that they might hear some "involuntary noises or movements" during the ceremony. Later, after audience members and those on stage reacted to the racial slur with shock, host Alan Cumming addressed Davidson's outbursts and apologized "if you are offended tonight."

Oscar winner speaks out on BAFTAs N-word controversy, slams 'throw away apology'

BBC apologizes for not removing slurs from BAFTAs' tape-delayed broadcast

Davidson's Monday statement was accompanied by a statement from CEO of Tourettes Action Emma McNally, who wrote, "We deeply understand that these words can cause hurt but at the same time, it is vital that the public understands a fundamental truth about Tourette syndrome: tics are involuntary. They are not a reflection of a person's beliefs, intentions, or character."

McNally continued, "People with Tourette's can say words or phrases they do not mean, do not endorse, and feel great distress about afterwards. These symptoms are neurological, not intentional, and they are something John – like many others with Tourette's – lives with every single day… We hope that those commenting will take the time to watch the film, learn about Tourette's, and understand the experiences behind moments like these. Education is key, and compassion makes a world of difference."

John Davidson and Robert Aramayo, who plays Davidson in 'I Swear'.

Karwai Tang/WireImage

Fans and stars alike spoke out following the Sunday incident, in addition to criticizing BBC for including the slur in the tape-delayed broadcast of the ceremony, which was aired two hours later.

The British Academy of Film and Television took "full responsibility" for the incident in a Monday statement shared with EW, which read, "We take the duty of care to all our guests very seriously and start from a position of inclusion. "

The British Academy went on to "apologize unreservedly" to Jordan and Lindo, thanking them for "their incredible dignity and professionalism."

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

It concluded, "We take full responsibility for putting our guests in a very difficult situation and we apologize to all.  We will learn from this, and keep inclusion at the core of all we do, maintaining our belief in film and storytelling as a critical conduit for compassion and empathy."

The statement came hours after Lindo addressed the incident while speaking to *Vanity Fair* at a Warner Brothers' after-party. The actor noted that he and Jordan "did what we had to do" while presenting, but admitted that he wished "someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterwards."**

- Awards Shows & Events

- BAFTA Film Awards

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW BAFTA"

Read More

---

Source: BAFTA

Published: 2026-02-24T09:00:23Z on Source: MANUEL MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle