Delroy Lindo breaks silence on John Davidson's racial slur shock at 2026 BAFTA: 'We did what we had to do'

John Davidson shouted the N-word at the 2026 BAFTA towards the stage where Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting the Best Visual Effects category. 

Now, the latter speaks out on the incident.

In a chat with Vanity Fair, the actor says that he and his fellow presenter “did what we had to do” when the racial slur incident happened. 

However, the Sinners star lamented the award show's administration, stating, "Someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterwards.”

But an earlier report in Variety stated the 2026 BAFTA management had taken a few cautious steps.

Floor managers had warned the attendees sitting near Davidson to expect outbursts due to the Tourette condition he has.

The activist removed himself from the audience after he was there for I Swear – a movie inspired by his life.

Alan Cumming, who was the 2026 BAFTA host, controlled the situation following Davidson's series of outbursts at the event.

“You may have noticed some strong language in the background. This can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people as the film explores that experience,” he thanked the audience, adding, “Thanks for your understanding and helping create a respectful space for everyone.”

Then he explained about the condition Davidson is suffering from.

“Tourette’s Syndrome is a disability, and the tics you’ve heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette’s Syndrome has no control over their language. We apologise if you are offended tonight."