Delroy Lindo says no one at BAFTA contacted him and Michael B. Jordan after they were hurled racial slurs at the annual awards ceremony.
On Sunday, Tourette’s activist John Davidson shouted the N-word as his “Sinners” co-stars were presenting the award for best visual effects for “Avatar: Fire and Ash” at London’s Royal Festival Hall.
Lind, 73, later acknowledged that he and Jordan, 39, “did what[they]had to do” and continued presenting during a conversation with Vanity Fair at the Warner Bros. afterparty, but added: “I wish someone at BAFTA had spoken to[them]afterwards.”
Representatives for Mr. Lind and Mr. Jordan did not immediately respond to Page Six’s requests for comment.
The British Academy issued a statement on Monday apologizing to the actors and vowing to take “full responsibility” for the “extremely difficult circumstances”.
Davidson’s life was the inspiration for the BAFTA-nominated film I Swear.
The biopic was nominated for five awards, with rising star Robert Aramayo winning the BAFTA for Best Actor for his portrayal of the Tourette activist.
Besides the N-word incident, Davidson also yelled several curse words throughout the night.
He also reportedly told BAFTA chair Sarah Putt to “shut up you motherfucker” during her introductory speech, and was later heard shouting “fuck you” as the directors of Boon accepted the award for best children’s and family film.
“I would be very disappointed if anyone thought my involuntary tics were intentional or meant anything,” Davidson said in a statement to Deadline on Monday.
The BBC, which broadcast this year’s BAFTAs but did not censor Davidson’s shocking comments, issued its own apology following the controversy.
“Some viewers may have heard strongly offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards ceremony,” the broadcaster told Page Six in a statement. “This resulted from an involuntary verbal tic associated with Tourette syndrome and was not intentional, as was explained during the ceremony.”
“We apologize that this was not edited before broadcast and will be removed from the BBC iPlayer version,” the broadcaster added.
Alan Cumming, host of the BAFTAs, also apologized for Davidson’s outburst.
“You may have noticed some strong language in the background,” he told the audience. “This may be part of how Tourette’s syndrome manifests for some people, as the film explores that experience.”
“Thank you for your understanding and for helping us create a space that is respectful for all,” the actor added.
Cumming further addressed the incident at a later ceremony, explaining that “Tourette syndrome is a disorder and the tics you heard tonight are involuntary.”
“I’m sorry if I offended you tonight,” he said.
Aramayo defended Davidson amid the backlash, claiming the 54-year-old was unable to control his words.
“First of all, it’s a tic. He has a tic. We need to understand,” Aramayo, 33, told a BBC reporter after the incident, according to the Daily Mail. “How we view Tourette’s is a collective responsibility. It’s not about shouting obscenities.”
“It’s not abuse. It’s Tourette’s. It’s tics,” the BAFTA winner added. “If that leads to a deeper understanding of Tourette’s and the film becomes part of that conversation, that’s great.”
Other celebrities also condemned Mr Davidson’s racial slurs, as well as the BBC, BAFTA and the Cumming incident and its aftermath.
In a comment on an Instagram video of the incident, Jamie Foxx wrote that Davidson “meant it” and called it “unacceptable.”
Wendell Pierce, who co-starred with Jordan on The Wire, said it was “upsetting” that the “initial reaction” of those involved was not a “full and full (sic) apology” to Jordan and Lind.
Pearce, 62, tweeted: “The insult to them comes first.” “The reason for the racist slur is irrelevant.”
Sinners production designer Hannah Beachler also responded on social media, claiming that she too was the target of Davidson’s racial slurs.
“Situations like this are almost impossible, but it happened three times that night, one of which was directed at me as I was on my way to dinner after the show,” she wrote to X.
“I understand and deeply understand why this is an impossible situation. I know that we must handle this with grace and continue to move forward,” Beachler, 55, added. “But what made it worse was the apology at the end of the show that was dropped with, ‘If we offended you.’ Of course we were offended.”
