“Sinners” took three awards at the BAFTAs last month, becoming the most decorated film by a Black director at the British film awards. But that achievement was overshadowed by another moment at the awards ceremony.
Tourette syndrome campaigner John Davidson, the subject of British indie film “I Swear,” yelled a racist slur while “Sinners” costars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage presenting the first award of the evening.
The BBC did not remove the slur from its broadcast of the ceremony, for which it later apologized.
The moment — and BAFTA host Alan Cumming’s on-stage apology to viewers, saying, “if you are offended tonight” — sparked discourse about the treatment of Black filmmakers, the nature of Tourette syndrome and whether someone owes an apology for involuntary outbursts. Viewers also questioned why and how the BBC allowed the moment to make it to air, in spite of a delay.
Davidson, who left the auditorium early, apologized for any pain he caused and said he was “deeply mortified,” adding that his tics are “involuntary and not a reflection of my personal beliefs.”
The saga marred what should have been a triumphant night for “Sinners” helmer Ryan Coogler and his film. It was also a stark reminder of one of the messages of the film: racism, and its history, are a horror.
On its surface, “Sinners” is a story about twin brothers returning to their Mississippi hometown for a fresh start, only to face vampires who threaten their dream — and lives. But it is so much more than that. It is a statement about racial injustice and how we are all connected by our collective history, religion, faith, music and family trauma, all wrapped in a fantastical, Southern Gothic tale.
Read CNN’s deep dive on how the triumphant “Sinners” is bigger than the BAFTAs incident.
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