For a week now, the BAFTAs' mishap has been in the news for its effect on the distinct entities involved. John Davidson, who has Tourette's syndrome, had involuntarily said something irking toward an entire community right when Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo came onto the stage. Despite having cleared the air on his part and several showbiz entities throwing their two cents in, Saturday Night Live has reignited the debacle. 

The controversy since then has taken a life of its own, with the most recent addition being a Saturday Night Live episode laying down its own perspective of the neurological condition, and the reactions it has ensued. 

The SNL episode that aired on February 28 had a segment where the performers on the show presented a sketch that was supposed to be a funny take on Tourette’s syndrome. But it was not included in the live episode due to time constraints. It did not really disappear, though, and was later released online on YouTube.

The sketch, since then, has been seen by millions of people online, spreading a misleading image of the community involved. In a conversation with Deadline, the Tourettes Action CEO, Emma McNally, has expressed her strong disapproval of what the sketch shows and tries to represent.

“This is not acceptable. Mocking a disability is never acceptable. It would not be tolerated for any other condition, and it should not be tolerated by people with Tourette’s,” McNally stated. She further explained that the condition should not be taken lightly, in light of its incurability. It should never be confused with a personality trait lest it be made into some sort of joke. 

"I am not for one minute dismissing that hurt," McNally has added, hinting at the distress the situation had caused at the BAFTAs during Michael B. Jordon and Delroy Lindo's takeover. She stood in defence of the community, explaining that the "ridicule" being directed towards them does not, in fact, lead to any fruition.

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Still, there are people who have not seen the skit and are unaware of the content that led to this controversy.

Marked as the 1001st episode, the cast of the February 28 segment of SNL took to playing controversial, prominent figures who use Tourette's as a justification for their previous actions, against the backdrop of an informational public service announcement. The celebrities enacted here were Mel Gibson, played by Andrew Dismukes, Kenan Thompson as Bill Cosby, and Ashley Padilla as J. K. Rowling, all of whom are known to hold debated opinions on pressing topics. 

The Internet's reception to the sketch has been just as flared since the release. The BAFTA incident was an unfortunate event, but John Davidson is known to have profusely apologized. However, the SNL sketch has resuscitated a controversy that might have died down otherwise.

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What do you think of the SNL sketch mocking Tourette syndrome? Do you think the backlash is deserved? Share your thoughts in the comments.