Delroy Lindo has publicly addressed the recent controversy surrounding his appearance at the BAFTA Film Awards, where a racial slur was shouted while he was on stage presenting an award. The 73-year-old actor, known for his role in the Oscar-nominated film Sinners, was presenting alongside co-star Michael B. Jordan at the Royal Festival Hall when Tourette's sufferer John Davidson involuntarily uttered the N-word.
Gratitude Amidst Controversy
Speaking at the NAACP Image Awards in California on Saturday, where he received the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor for Sinners, Lindo expressed his appreciation for the overwhelming support he has received. "We appreciate – I appreciate – all of the support and love we have been shown in the aftermath of what happened last weekend, it means a lot to us," he stated. "It is an honour to be here amongst our people this evening, amongst so many people who have shown us such incredible support."
Lindo emphasized the positive outcome from a potentially negative situation, adding, "And it's a classic case of something that could've been very negative becoming very positive. Thank you so much for the support." The British-born star further praised the NAACP ceremony as "a room where being fully seen is not rare, but it is expected."
Industry Reactions and Support
The incident was referenced multiple times during the NAACP Image Awards. Actress Regina Hall, while presenting the first award of the night, acknowledged Lindo and Jordan, saying, "I just want to take a moment to the two kings who are in this audience and just send you so much love for your class." Host Deon Cole also addressed the matter, humorously advising, "If there are any white men out here in the audience with Tourette's, I advise you to tell them they can read the room tonight."
During the BAFTA ceremony, host Alan Cumming addressed the audience to explain that Tourette's Syndrome is a disability causing involuntary tics, stating, "We apologise if you are offended tonight." However, not all reactions were sympathetic. Black US actor Jamie Foxx commented on social media, "Out of all the words you could've said Tourette's makes you say that. Nah he meant that s***. Unacceptable."
John Davidson's Response and BBC Apology
John Davidson, 54, who made headlines worldwide for the outburst, later expressed that he was "deeply mortified" by the incident. He explained that his neurological condition, which he has suffered from since age 12, triggered the involuntary shout. Davidson is Britain's most high-profile Tourette's sufferer, known for his campaign work that earned him an MBE from the late Queen in 2019.
The BBC issued an apology for failing to edit the racial slur from the TV broadcast shown two hours after the live event. A spokesperson said, "Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards. This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional. We apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer."
Broader Implications and Fallout
The controversy has led to broader consequences within the film industry. Film-maker Jonte Richardson announced he is stepping down as a BAFTA judge over the academy's handling of the incident. In a statement on LinkedIn, Richardson said, "After considerable soul-searching, I feel compelled to withdraw from the BAFTA emerging talent judging panel."
Despite the challenges, Lindo and Jordan maintained their composure on stage during the BAFTA event, not reacting visibly to the shout. The incident has sparked discussions about disability awareness, broadcast standards, and racial sensitivity in high-profile ceremonies.
