Delroy Lindo hails ‘support and love’ after racial slur incident at Baftas

Sinners star Delroy Lindo said he appreciates “all of the support and love” he has received after a racial slur was inadvertently shouted while he was on stage at the Bafta Film Awards last Sunday.

The 73-year-old actor and his Sinners co-star Michael B Jordan were presenting the special visual effects award during the ceremony in London when Scottish campaigner John Davidson, who has Tourette syndrome, shouted a racial slur.

Lindo addressed the controversy while on stage at the NAACP Image Awards in California on Saturday, which celebrates outstanding achievements and performances of black and minority ethnic people in the arts.

Lindo was on stage with Sinners director Ryan Coogler as he addressed the incident.

The British-born actor said: “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.

“It is an honour to be here amongst our people this evening, amongst so many people who have shown us such incredible support.

“And it’s a classic case of something that could’ve been very negative becoming very positive. Thank you so much for the support.”

Lindo praised the ceremony as “a room where being fully seen is not rare, but it is expected”.

Jordan and Lindo were acknowledged by actress Regina Hall as she presented the first award of the night.

Hall, best known for appearing in the Scary Movie franchise, said: “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.”

The 57th NAACP Image Awards were held in Pasadena and hosted by actor and comedian Deon Cole.

Cole took aim at the Bafta incident, joking: “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.”

Davidson, whose Tourette’s causes him to involuntarily shout out words, has said he is “deeply mortified” by what happened at the Baftas, where I Swear, a film about his life and struggles, was nominated.

The BBC apologised after it failed to edit the slur out of the delayed broadcast of the ceremony.

The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People) was set up in 1909 in response to ongoing violence against black people and is the US’s largest civil rights organisation, with more than two million activists.