On this week’s episode of Little Gold Men, we take a deeper look at the scandal that’s still simmering following the BAFTA Awards on Sunday—when guest John Davidson, who has Tourette syndrome, shouted the N-word at Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo while they were onstage. Little Gold Men’s John Ross was on the ground at the awards in London, and was the first reporter to talk to Lindo after the upsetting moment. Lindo revealed that he and Jordan “did what we had to do” while presenting, but that nobody from BAFTA had reached out to them directly after the incident.
Since our recording, the fallout has continued. Hannah Beachler, the Oscar-nominated production designer of Sinners, alleged on social media that Davidson also directed a slur at her during another uncontrollable tic. A member of the BAFTA jury, Jonte Richardson, stepped down from the organization’s judging panel, citing BAFTA’s “utterly unforgivable” handling of the incident. Davidson and BAFTA both issued long apologies, with BAFTA including a specific apology to Jordan and Lindo. The BBC issued an apology as well, and reedited the broadcast to remove the racial slur. Google had to issue an apology as well after a news alert about the incident included the N-word.
It’s a warranted whirlwind of uproar following an unprecedented incident. Davidson, who was the inspiration for the BAFTA-winning film I Swear, made clear in his own apology that his tics are involuntary and not reflective of his own beliefs. He had multiple outbursts in the beginning of the telecast, before voluntarily removing himself to watch the ceremony in a private room. Yet before he did, Jordan and Lindo were forced to hear such offensive language hurled at them in a public forum, leaving them and many in the audience (as well as those who later saw it on broadcast before the BBC reedited it) understandably upset.
Traditionally, the BAFTA Awards are a key stop for Oscar nominees, largely because the event takes place just before Oscar voting begins. Though BAFTA winners don’t always align with the Oscars, a passionate acceptance speech there can put an Oscar nominee at the forefront of Academy voters’ minds just as they turn toward their ballots. Just last year, Anora’s Mikey Madison won her first major award at the BAFTAs; she went on to win the Oscar, despite the fact that Demi Moore had been considered the front-runner for best actress for much of the season.
With Oscar voting starting February 26, the question now is whether this upsetting event could raise Sinners’ profile at a pivotal moment. The Ryan Coogler–helmed film earned a historic 16 Oscar nominations, and is considered to be in tight competition for the win in several categories.
As discussed on this week’s Little Gold Men (listen below), the grace and professionalism displayed by Sinners stars Jordan and Lindo—both of whom are nominated for individual acting awards—during that difficult moment was admirable, and reflects the way they’ve carried themselves their entire careers. All of this year’s acting races—with the exception of lead actress, which is essentially locked up for Jessie Buckley—remain very much in flux. So even though neither Jordan nor Lindo won at the BAFTAs, they’re still front of mind for many who tuned in.
