Al Murray has become the latest high-profile figure to rip into US comedy show Saturday Night Live after it provoked controversy with a sketch responding to last week’s Baftas racial slur incident.
The skit featured impersonations of disgraced celebrities claiming Tourette’s syndrome explained their past misconduct.
The segment, which was cut from the live broadcast but later released online, opened with an explanation of how the neurological condition can cause involuntary speech before presenting a series of scandal-plagued figures using the disorder to justify their behaviour.
Andrew Dismukes portrayed Mel Gibson, declaring that Tourette’s “explains a lot of the things I’ve said or yelled through the years.”
Al Murray is best known for his Pub Landlord character | PA
Host Connor Storrie impersonated Armie Hammer, joking that “one of the most common side effects is cannibalism.”
Ashley Padilla’s JK Rowling suggested the condition could manifest as a “years-long obsession with something like trans rights.”
The sketch also targeted Bill Cosby, Louis CK, and Kanye West.
Critics swiftly condemned the sketch as offensive towards people with disabilities.
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— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) March 1, 2026
Lewis Goodall, presenter of The News Agents podcast, described it as “genuinely shameful” on X/Twitter.
“The joke is basically nothing more sophisticated than ‘people with serious disabilities make it up.’ That’s before they compare a disabled man, mocked his entire life, to Bill Cosby. Whole thing deserves to become infamous,” he wrote.
Another critic argued the sketch’s “implicit premise is that people with Tourette’s are just using it as an excuse” — the very misconception Mr Davidson’s advocacy work seeks to challenge.
And now, Mr Murray has followed suit, calling the skit “not f***ing funny” and “vile” in a series of social media posts.
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However, not everyone was impressed with Mr Murray’s stance. “The elephant in the room is that these are the same kind of people as you Al. Left-leaning woke comedians who oppose Trump, took the knee for BLM. Own it,” one critic fired back.
Mr Murray stood firm in his defence of Mr Davidson, replying: “A list of things I’ve not done. C**k off.”
Some viewers defended the sketch, arguing its target was the celebrities themselves rather than those living with Tourette’s syndrome.
“This sketch was cut for time from tonight’s episode of SNL. Which is a shame because it’s one of the best SNL sketches I’ve ever seen,” one supporter wrote on X.
Vile.
— Al Murray 🇺🇦 (@almurray) March 2, 2026
Another agreed: “This should have aired, but we’ll take it as an unaired classic.”
The original incident occurred at the Baftas on February 22, when Mr Davidson, a Tourette’s campaigner whose life inspired the film I Swear, involuntarily shouted a racial slur while Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan were presenting an award.
Mr Davidson has since expressed deep regret, stating he is “deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning.”
He also clarified that he “ticked perhaps 10 different offensive words on the night of the awards,” not just the single slur that dominated headlines.
Mr Davidson suffers from coprolalia, a form of Tourette’s involving involuntary obscene outbursts, which affects between 10 and 33 per cent of those with the condition.
The BBC has launched a “fast-tracked” investigation into why the slur was broadcast despite the ceremony airing on a two-hour delay.
On Sunday, one week on from the incident, Mr Davidson also returned to social media for the first time with a lengthy statement.
“I’ve been waiting all week until the dust settles after the weekend at the BAFTAs in London. I would like to thank each and every one of you who have shown love, support and solidarity towards myself and the rest of the Tourette’s Community,” he penned on Facebook.
John Davidson insisted he would ‘never apologise’ for having Tourette’s one week on from the incident
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He went on: “Your kind words and support have got me through a very difficult week. Whilst I will never apologies for having Tourette syndrome, i will apologise for any pain, upset and misunderstanding that it may create.
“This past week has been tough, and has reminded me that what I do raising awareness for such a misunderstood condition, there is still a long way to go and I will keep on keeping on until this is achieved.
“Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou I love you all. Johnny D x,” he signed off. (sic)