Delroy Lindo Addresses BAFTA Racial Slur Controversy At NAACP Image Awards

The incident has divided the entertainment community.

Sinners star Delroy Lindo addressed the BAFTA controversy onstage with the film’s director, Ryan Coogler, at the NAACP Image Awards.

During the Feb. 22 ceremony, Lindo and his co-star, Michael B. Jordan, were presenting an award on stage when an attendee with Tourette Syndrome, John Davidson, shouted the n-word. The outburst was reportedly a tic, a symptom of the neurological disorder.

Appearing with Coogler to a standing ovation, Lindo spoke to the audience about the incident for the first time.

Ryan Coogler and Delroy Lindo receive a standing ovation at the NAACP Image Awards:

‘We appreciate all of the support and love we have been shown in the aftermath of what happened last weekend … it is an honor to be here amongst our people’ pic.twitter.com/2etg8OJfrI
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) March 1, 2026

“I’d just like to officially say, I appreciate, we appreciate all the support and love we have been shown in the aftermath of what happened last weekend. It means a lot to us,” Lindo said. “It is an honor to be here amongst our people this evening. “

He called the matter a “classic case of something that could be very negative becoming very positive.”

The handling of the incident has divided many. Some have questioned Davidson’s intentions, but others noted how tics are uncontrollable. Beyond this, the varied empathy towards all parties sparked backlash among the Black and disabled communities.

Tensions rose even further after the BBC, the network that aired the BAFTAs, failed to remove the slur. The British Film Academy and the BBC later apologized to Lindo and Jordan for the incident, a move made after critics called out their lack of accountability. A judge for the BBC also stepped down in light of the controversy.

The NAACP Image Awards continued to amplify the achievements of Black Hollywood. Sinners took home 11 awards, including Best Motion Picture and Directing for Coogler. Jordan also won Best Actor and Entertainer of the Year. Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku received Best Supporting Actor and Actress awards for their respective roles.

Coogler reminded Black people that their truth remains the same and to remember their own power.

Ryan Coogler with a powerful speech after winning ‘Outstanding Motion Picture’ at the 2026 NAACP Image Awards for Sinners

pic.twitter.com/IHLQKAP50F
— Horde (@wearehorde_) March 1, 2026

“Since our people been here over four centuries, there’s always been a lot of lies told about us. A lie, no matter how powerful the person saying it is, it’s still a lie,” Coogler told the audience. “The truth, no matter how little power the person that’s saying the truth is still the truth. Y’all are loved, y’all are beautiful, and y’all are powerful and mighty.”