Delroy Lindo Addresses BAFTA Slur at NAACP Image Awards

Delroy Lindo publicly addressed the racial slur directed at him and Michael B. Jordan during the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards at the 57th NAACP Image Awards on Saturday, February 28, 2026.

The Incident at the BAFTAs

During the BAFTA Awards on February 22, 2026, John Davidson, a Tourette’s syndrome advocate and executive producer of the film I Swear, involuntarily shouted a racial slur while Lindo and Jordan were presenting the award for best visual effects. The incident raised questions about the response from the show’s host and the BBC.

Davidson has since apologized, citing his Tourette’s syndrome as the cause and condemning the slur itself. Both the BBC and Davidson issued apologies following the outburst.

Lindo’s Response at the NAACP Image Awards

At the NAACP Image Awards, Lindo expressed gratitude for the support he and Jordan received following the incident. “Before we start, I’d just like to officially say, we appreciate — I appreciate — we appreciate all the support and the love that we have been shown in the aftermath of what happened last weekend,” Lindo said alongside “Sinners” director Ryan Coogler. He received a standing ovation from the audience.

Lindo continued, “It is an honor to be here amongst our people this evening. Among so many people who have shown us such incredible support. And it’s a classic case of something that could be very negative becoming very positive.”

Additional Accounts of the Incident

Hannah Beachler, production designer for “Sinners,” described the situation as “almost impossible.” Beachler stated she heard the slur directed at both Lindo, Jordan, and another Black woman. She acknowledged the difficulty of responding with grace but also emphasized the impact of the incident.

Michael B. Jordan did not publicly address the incident during the NAACP Image Awards broadcast, but he and Lindo had a private conversation shortly after Lindo’s speech. Reports indicate Lindo playfully shoved Jordan during this exchange.