Pippa McClounan, communications manager of Tourette’s Action, told BBC News: “What we’ve got to try and remember is, as much as these words do cause hurt and shock in people, it’s really vital that the public understands a fundamental truth about Tourette’s syndrome, that the tics are involuntary, and they are in no way reflection of what that person is thinking and their beliefs.
“It’s not a what their intention is or what their character’s like. It’s involuntary. It’s a neurological condition. It’s so complex to try and understand why this happens.”
Such tics, called coprolalia, affect a minority of people with Tourette’s, she said.
“This is what John lives with every day of his life. It’s not just one occasion at an award ceremony. This is his life, and the backlash that he experiences throughout his life you see in the film.
“We hope that people who are reading and maybe commenting on it will also take the time to watch the film, learn about Tourette’s, and understand the experiences behind those moments.”