Statement following Saturday Night Live

Posted on 2 March 2026 by Pippa McClounan

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Over recent weeks, our community has faced an unprecedented wave of online trolling, misinformation, and targeted mockery. Following the extremely difficult events surrounding the BAFTAs, many people with Tourette’s have been struggling with fear, shame, isolation and a HUGE need to defend a condition they cannot control.

We had hoped this would be a new week and we could move on but the release of further content online that has been designed to ridicule Tourette’s and reduce our community to a punchline has only deepened that hurt.

I want to be completely clear here: 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.

Tourette’s is a complex neurological condition, of which there is no cure.  It is not a joke. It is not a personality trait. It is not a source of entertainment. It is a condition that can be extremely debilitating, causing pain isolation and huge amounts of discrimination.

Videos and posts that deliberately misrepresent or sensationalise tics set us back years. A single video can undo the progress our community has spent years building toward greater awareness. I hope those creating these videos understand that they create real consequences for people in our community: fear, isolation, bullying, abuse, and a feeling among many that they must hide away to stay safe.

The trolling and harassment members of our community have endured in the past few days has been horrific. People have been targeted with threats and humiliation simply for having a condition they did not choose. No one should ever be treated that way.

These recent events have been painful for multiple communities, and I am not for one minute dismissing that hurt, but directing anger and ridicule to people with Tourette’s does nothing to heal that pain and does not move us forward.

What we need right now is people to be kind.  We need compassion, accurate information and above all, we need education.

I am asking everyone, content creators, viewers, the media, and the wider public, to please consider the impact of what they say and what they share. Behind every tic is a person. A family. A life. A long standing history of being misunderstood.

I was always brought up with the motto that if you have nothing nice to say, then say nothing and to always, always be kind.

To those in the Tourette’s community:

Please know you are not alone. We are here for you.  I know times now are causing extreme pain but please don’t feel like you need to hide away. Reach out to us for support.

To the wider public who want to support:

Please share our educational content, help us dispel the myths and help our community get one step closer to acceptance.

We will continue advocating, educating, and standing together as a community. #TogetherWeAreStronger

Much love,
Emma

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