Delroy Lindo publicly acknowledged the outpouring of support he and Michael B. Jordan received following a racial slur directed at them during the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs), expressing gratitude at the NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday. “We appreciate all the support and love that we have been shown,” Lindo said onstage, describing the response as “a classic case of something that could be very negative becoming very positive.”
The incident occurred on February 22nd as Lindo and Jordan, stars of the critically acclaimed film Sinners, were presenting the award for best visual effects. John Davidson, a campaigner with Tourette’s syndrome, shouted the slur during their presentation. The BBC, which broadcast the ceremony on a two-hour delay, faced criticism for failing to remove the offensive language from its broadcast.
At the NAACP Image Awards, actor Regina King introduced Lindo and Jordan as “two kings,” offering her “love for your class” as the audience gave them a standing ovation, according to reports. Lindo then addressed the BAFTA incident alongside Sinners director Ryan Coogler. Later in the evening, Jordan was named Entertainer of the Year, dedicating his award to Chadwick Boseman, and Sinners won the award for best motion picture.
Davidson, who attended the BAFTAs as the executive producer of the film I Swear – a documentary about his life with Tourette’s syndrome – has since stated he was “deeply mortified” by his outburst. He explained that his Tourette’s syndrome causes involuntary vocalizations, and the slur was an unintended tic. I Swear was nominated at the BAFTA awards.
The BBC has apologized for the broadcast of the slur and announced a fast-track investigation into why it was not edited out. The NAACP, the largest civil rights organization in the United States, was founded in the early 20th century to combat racial violence and discrimination against Black people. The organization celebrated the success of Sinners, which received a record-setting 16 Oscar nominations.
