Entertainment

Alan Cumming Thanks BAFTAs Audience After Activist’s Tourette’s Interruption

Host Alan Cumming addressed the audience at the British Academy Film Awards on Sunday night after audible outbursts from Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson were heard during the ceremony.

The event, held at Royal Festival Hall and broadcast on BBC One, was briefly disrupted when Davidson, 54, let out involuntary shouts. At one point during the ceremony, Davidson could be heard yelling, “Shut the f*** up,” during a speech from BAFTA chair Sara Putt, as well as “f*** you” when the directors of the winner for Best Children’s and Family Film accepted their award.

Davidson also shouted a racial slur as actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the award for Best Visual Effects, per Variety. Davidson, who was diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome at 25 after experiencing symptoms from childhood, is the inspiration behind the nominated film I Swear.

Those in attendance, including BAFTA president Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, reportedly reacted with visible surprise as the auditorium fell silent during speeches, making the outbursts more noticeable.

“The auditorium fell completely silent during the speeches, making the sudden outbursts clearly audible. The reaction in the room was one of visible shock, yet no one openly responded,” a source told HELLO!

Cumming acknowledged the moment on stage, explaining that strong language can be part of how Tourette’s presents for some individuals. “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,” Alan said on the stage. Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone. We apologise if you are offended.”

Cumming addressed the audience again later in the evening, this time apologising to anyone who may have been offended by Davidson’s words. “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 apologise if you are offended tonight,” he said.

Prior to the show as well, the event’s stage manager introduced Davidson, 54, to the audience and alerted attendees that they might hear some “involuntary noises or movements” during the ceremony, per Variety.

Davidson appeared to have left the audience during the second half of the show, per Variety.

I Swear, directed by Kirk Jones, received five nominations, including best leading actor for Robert Aramayo, who ultimately won the award as well as BAFTAs EE Rising Star.

During his acceptance speech for the latter award, the actor praised Davidson and called for greater understanding of his condition. “John Davidson is the most remarkable man I ever met,” Aramayo, 33, said. “He’s so forthcoming with education and he believes there should still be so much more we need to learn about Tourette’s.”

Aramayo continued, “I just want to say for people who are living with Tourette’s, it’s the buzz around them that helped define what their experience is, so to quote the film, ‘They need support and understanding.’”

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Entertainment

Shakira to perform at Egypt’s iconic Pyramids of Giza in April

Colombian pop star Shakira is set to perform live at the Pyramids of Giza on April 7, as part of her worldwide “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” tour, organisers said.

The concert is expected to draw a large audience to one of Egypt’s most iconic landmarks, with the global singer planning a visually ambitious production designed to match the scale and symbolism of the ancient site.

The show marks Shakira’s return to Egypt nearly two decades after her successful 2007 performance at the same venue as part of her Oral Fixation Tour, which at the time drew a large audience and widespread media coverage.

Shakira is expected to perform a selection of her most popular hits that have shaped her global career over the years, in a setting that blends music with history.

Entertainment

Jacob Elordi could be the next James Bond

The search for the next James Bond has officially entered its rumour-heavy era, and this time the name doing the rounds is Jacob Elordi.

According to DeuxMoi, MGM Studios has offered Elordi the role of 007 in Bond 26, the next installment in the long-running spy franchise, potentially directed by Denis Villeneuve.

While there have been no official confirmation from distributors at MGM, Elordi’s name appearing in Bond conversations signals a notable shift in tone for the franchise.

If he accepts, the 28-year-old actor would make history as the youngest performer to ever officially take on the iconic role. Elordi’s name adds a new, younger generation to the conversation.

The casting speculation comes after a series of high-profile actors were linked to the role. Idris Elba was a long-rumoured contender, though he ultimately ruled himself out, noting that the conversation around his potential casting had become fixated on his race.

Other names that surfaced in recent years include Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Tom Holland, Harris Dickinson, Scott Rose-Marsh, and Callum Turner.

Elordi, best known for his breakout role in Euphoria, has been steadily building a reputation for taking on layered and intense roles. His recent projects, including Priscilla and Saltburn, showcase his ability to balance charisma with depth qualities that could redefine a younger James Bond.

Traditionally, Bond has skewed older and British, but Elordi’s Australian background and Gen-Z appeal could signal a fresh approach.

Entertainment

Accidental ‘crying horse’ toy wins hearts in China

At Yiwu International Trade City, China’s largest wholesale market, customers crowd into a small shop searching for an unlikely bestseller ahead of the Lunar New Year.

They are looking for a red plush horse with a downturned mouth, a gold bell around its neck, and eyes that appear to shy away from a viewer’s gaze. The toy has gone viral on Chinese social media ahead of the Spring Festival holiday, which this year marks the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac.

Called the “crying horse” by online users, the toy was designed as a happy-faced Lunar New Year decoration, but a manufacturing mistake turned its smile into a frown.

“A worker sewed the mouth on upside down by accident,” said Zhang Huoqing, owner of the Yiwu-based shop Happy Sister.

Zhang said she offered a refund after discovering the flaw, but the customer never returned the toy. Not long after, she discovered photos of it circulating online.

“People joked that the crying horse is how you look at work, while the smiling one is how you look after work,” Zhang said. As demand surged, Zhang decided to keep making the sad-faced version.

Some young white-collar workers in China say the horse’s dour expression mirrors their long hours and workplace stress.

It also taps into a broader trend for so-called “ugly-cute” toys, popularised in recent years by characters such as Pop Mart’s (9992.HK), opens new tab toothy monster Labubu.

“These days, almost everyone who walks through the door asks for the crying horse,” said Lou Zhenxian, a Yiwu vendor who has sold festive toys for more than 25 years.

By early afternoon, racks of crying horses outside Happy Sister had sold out and employees were rushing to restock the shelves.

“We will keep selling it,” Zhang said. “This crying horse really fits the reality of modern working people.”

REUTERS