Delroy Lindo Discusses BAFTA’s Tourette’s Incident at NAACP Image Awards: Turning a Negative into a Positive
Delroy Lindo expressed gratitude for the support he received following a controversial incident at the BAFTA Film Awards last week, where an audience member shouted a racial epithet.
Lindo, who presented at the ceremony alongside co-star Michael B. Jordan, addressed the situation after Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson shouted the N-word as they were preparing to announce the Best Visual Effects award.
"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.
He characterized the incident as a "classic case of something that could be very negative becoming very positive," and noted the honor of being present at the NAACP Image Awards.
In response to the incident, BAFTA issued a statement taking "full responsibility" for the slur. Although not clearly audible, the remark was included in the BBC’s coverage of the pre-recorded ceremony, which aired with a two-hour delay on BBC One.
Davidson, who is an executive producer for the BAFTA-nominated film I Swear, reportedly left his seat midway through the ceremony.
Later that evening, actress Regina Hall recognized Lindo and Jordan for their "class" during her presentation of the first award, which was met with a standing ovation from the audience.
Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder that currently has no cure. While there are treatments available to help manage the associated tics, they do not disappear entirely.
