Ryan Coogler and Delroy Lindo express gratitude to their supporters at the NAACP Image Awards after the BAFTA controversy
Director Ryan Coogler and Delroy Lindo discuss the significance of community following an incident involving a racial slur in “Sinners.”
Ryan Coogler’s moment at the NAACP Image Awards emerged as one of the evening’s most impactful scenes in the wake of last weekend’s BAFTA controversy.
In the wake of a widely criticized incident at the BAFTA Awards in London, where a racial slur was aired during a tape delayed broadcast, director Ryan Coogler and veteran actor Delroy Lindo took the opportunity on stage in Pasadena to express their gratitude for the overwhelming support that has uplifted them throughout the week.
Regina Hall opened the evening by inviting the illustrious audience to “take a moment for the two kings who are in this audience,” alluding to Lindo and Michael B. Jordan. As the room erupted in a thunderous standing ovation, Hall expressed, “[I] just send you so much love for your class.” The gesture directly acknowledged the composure the men exhibited following an involuntary outburst that was aired by the BBC, even after the studio’s requests to edit the moment out.
When Coogler and Lindo later took the stage together to present, Lindo paused for a moment to share his heartfelt thoughts. “Before we begin, I want to take a moment to express our gratitude — my gratitude — for all the support and love we have received following the events of last weekend.” “It holds great significance for us,” Lindo expressed to the enthusiastic crowd. He characterized the shift from the London controversy to the welcoming atmosphere of the Image Awards as a “classic case of something that could be very negative becoming very positive.”
Lindo continued his heartfelt message, stating, “It is a privilege to be here among our people this evening.” Among the many individuals who have provided us with remarkable support.
Ryan Coogler expressed that sentiment, highlighting the importance of being in an environment focused on Black excellence. “There’s something powerful about standing in this room — a room where we don’t have to explain ourselves, and our stories aren’t mere footnotes,” Coogler said. “They are the primary text.”
Lindo remarked that the auditorium was “a room where being fully seen is not rare, it is expected.” The pair subsequently exchanged lines, emphasizing that their efforts extend beyond mere entertainment. “And that matters, because so much of what we do on screen and behind the scenes is about fighting to be understood,” Coogler continued, with Lindo emphasizing the goal is “to be layered.” Intricate. To exist as a human.
The duo concluded their statements by honoring the richness of their community. “Evenings such as this serve as a reminder that by sharing our narratives honestly, we present ourselves authentically.” “We create space for one another,” Coogler stated. “Room for expansion.” Room to take charge. “Space to shine,” Lindo remarked.
The “Sinners” team departed the stage with a sense of pride in being “part of a community that continues to move culture forward.”
