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Delroy Lindo Speaks Out on BAFTA Tourette’s Incident at NAACP Image Awards: “Something Negative Becoming Positive”
#Delroy Lindo#BAFTA incident#NAACP Image Awards#Tourette Syndrome#Michael B. Jordan#Ryan Coogler#Sinners#N-word controversy
📌 Key Takeaways
Lindo reframed the incident as something negative becoming positive
BAFTA apologized and promised a comprehensive review of their ceremony
The NAACP Image Awards showcased strong support for Lindo and Jordan
'Sinners' led with 18 nominations and had won 9 awards by Lindo's speech
📖 Full Retelling
Actor Delroy Lindo addressed the controversial BAFTA Tourette's incident at the 2026 NAACP Image Awards in Pasadena on Saturday, expressing gratitude for the support he and Michael B. Jordan received after John Davidson, a guest with Tourette Syndrome, shouted the N-word during their award presentation at the London ceremony the previous Sunday. Taking the stage with writer-director Ryan Coogler to loud applause, Lindo offered his first public comments on the incident that had sparked widespread discussion about disability and racial sensitivity. '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 stated, adding that the moment represents 'a classic case of something that could be very negative becoming very positive.' The NAACP ceremony served as a platform for numerous expressions of support, with host Deon Cole jokingly offering a prayer for anyone in the audience with Tourette's to 'read the room,' and multiple award winners acknowledging Lindo and Jordan's 'class' in handling the situation. BAFTA has since issued a full apology for the incident, which reached a wider audience when it aired during the BBC broadcast, and vowed to launch a 'comprehensive review' of their ceremony protocols.
The NAACP Image Awards is an annual awards ceremony presented by the American-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to honor outstanding performances in film, television, theatre, music, and literature. Over 40 categories of the Image Awards are voted on by the NAA...
Delroy George Lindo (born 18 November 1952) is an American actor. Starting his career in the 1975 stage production of Of Mice and Men, he later earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor for his work in the 1988 production of Joe Turner's Come and Gone. He received wider recognition wit...
Ryan Kyle Coogler (born May 23, 1986) is an American filmmaker. He has received ten NAACP Image Awards, four Black Reel Awards, a Grammy Award and a Golden Globe Award, along with nominations for five Academy Awards and three BAFTA Awards.
Coogler directed a few short films at the USC School of Cine...
Neurodevelopmental disorder involving motor and vocal tics
Tourette syndrome (TS), or simply Tourette's, is a motor disorder that begins in childhood or adolescence. It is characterized by multiple movement (motor) tics and at least one vocal (phonic) tic. Common tics are blinking, coughing, throat clearing, sniffing, and facial movements.
Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment At the end of the week that saw the 2026 BAFTA Awards descend into controversy after guest John Davidson, who has Tourette Syndrome, shouted the N-word while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented an award, the 2026 NAACP Image Awards offered numerous opportunities for those affected by the incident to express their support for Jordan and Lindo. And Lindo himself offered his first public comments on the incident, taking the stage with his Sinners writer-director Ryan Coogler a little over an hour into the ceremony to loud applause at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Related Stories Movies ACE Eddie Awards for Editing: 'One Battle After Another,' 'Sinners' Win Top Prizes Guest Column I Have Tourette Syndrome and I Have the N-Word Thrown at Me. I Have Thoughts on BAFTA. “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 added the moment is a “classic case of something that could be very negative becoming very positive” and reflected on the “honor” of being at the NAACP Image Awards. BAFTA has since offered a full apology for the incident, which reached a wider audience when it aired during the BBC broadcast of the awards show, and vowed to launch a “comprehensive review” of the ceremony. Earlier during Saturday’s NAACP Image Awards, which aired live on CBS and BET, host Deon Cole jokingly offered a prayer for anyone in the audience with Tourette’s to “read the room.” Later, presenting the first award of the evening, to Sinners‘ Miles Caton, Regina Hall took a moment to recognize “kings” Jordan and Lindo for their “class,” comments that led to a standing ovation. Abbott Elementary star and creator Quin...
