...to MBJ, DL, and Hannah. He also said he wasn't initially sure who all he offended because he actually ticced about ten different slurs - he called someone a pedophile, for example - and it just didn't seem to be heard as loudly. He was also told that BBC would edit it out if he swore or used a slur, and he was seated really far back so he wouldn't bother anyone on stage but wasn't entirely taking in that there was a microphone nearby (seriously BAFTA, why the ***** would you seat that man next to a microphone?). He thought no one was hearing him at first, because no one seemed to be turning around. Then he saw MBJ and DL's faces and that's when he left (which I absolutely do feel is for the best. Written apologies in his case are probably better. Also, he's been assaulted multiple times in the course of apologizing in person because, you know, the tic happens again).
I think DL and MBJ especially did deserve a direct apology, not because he intended any harm or because he did anything voluntarily, but just because of the weight of such an awful word (especially for MBJ, an American), and the reality of a viral moment - this will follow them now, the last thing any of them likely wants to be reminded of. But I'm iffier on him pleading for mercy for the world to see, because that's the whole life of someone with TS, especially with coprolalia. They are forever apologizing to VERY angry people for something they have literally no control over.
