Delroy Lindos Complicated UK Career Sparks Controversy

Delroy Lindos Complicated UK Career Sparks Controversy

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Delroy Lindo has found himself thrust into the spotlight after being at the centre of a shocking BAFTAs racial slur row over the weekend.

During the ceremony, the actor, 73, along with his Sinners co-star Michael B. Jordan was left shaken when the N-word was shouted out by John Davidson, who has been diagnosed with Tourettes syndrome, while they were presenting an award.

While Delroy and Michael carried on with the presentation, he later shared in an after party interview his disappointment that 'no one from spoke to him' in the wake of the incident.

Delroy, who was born in Lewisham, has previously spoken about the impact of racism in Britain, stating it is as 'violent' as it can be in the United States.

While he has worked in the film industry for more than four decades, much of his career has formed of smaller parts in big films, including Get Shorty, The Cider , Gone in 60 Seconds, and Ransom.

Highlights in his career include his collaborations with Spike Lee, most prominently the biopic Malcolm X, where he appears opposite .

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Delroy Lindo has found himself thrust into the spotlight after being at the centre of a shocking BAFTAs racial slur row over the weekend

During the ceremony, the actor, 73, was left shaken when the N-word was shouted out by John Davidson, who has been diagnosed with Tourette syndrome

The actor has also found himself as a surprise nominee for Best Supporting Actor at next month's Oscars, beating out hopeful Paul Mescal.

Despite his British roots, Delroy moved to the United States when he was a teenager, after his mother, a nurse, emigrated to Canada then to San Francisco, where he studied acting.

While Delroy has said he still regularly visits the UK, he has few good memories of his British upbringing.

At the time of his childhood, the UK was gripped by rising support for far-right groups including the National Front and racist language from figures such as Enoch Powell, who delivered the infamous 1968 Rivers of Blood speech.

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Delroy has previously described his relationship with the UK as 'complicated,' as despite being the child of two Jamaican parents who emigrated as part of the Windrush generation, he knew little of Black British history until he left the country.

He told The Guardian in 2020: 'British racism is every bit as virulent and violent as American racism.  

'I'm curious to unpack those stories. I have an intense interest in the Windrush period, because my mom was part of that.'

'Everything I have achieved in my life has come as a result of leaving England. I could never in a trillion years have had this career in England. Never.'

Delroy, who was born in Lewisham, has previously shared he has a 'complicated' relationship with his home country after relocating to the US when he was a teenager

After making his Broadway debut in 1982, much of Delroy's four-decade career has been formed of smaller parts in big films 

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While Delroy did find mainstream film success, it was his work with Spike Lee that led him to be branded the director's 'secret weapon' (pictured in Lee's Clockers)

He was tipped for an Oscar nod in 2020 for his work on Lee's Da 5 Bloods, where he starred as an African American Vietnam veteran, but missed out

On the small screen, he appeared in the CBS series The Good Fight, and opposite Kerry Washington in the 2023 show Unprisoned (pictured)

Delroy also earned critical praise for his performance as a criminal mentor in Malcolm X

John Davidson, who yelled the N-word at Delroy and Michael B. Jordan during the BAFTAs, has said he is 'deeply mortified' by his outburst

'Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage at the time, and we apologise unreservedly to them, and to all those impacted. We would like to thank Michael and Delroy for their incredible dignity and professionalism,' the statement read.

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On Monday, John himself apologised for the outburst, saying in a statement: 'I wanted to thank BAFTA and everyone involved in the awards last night for their support and understanding and inviting me to attend the broadcast.

'I appreciated the announcement to the auditorium in advance of the recording, warning everyone that my tics are involuntary and are not a reflection of my personal beliefs.

'I was heartened by the round of applause that followed this announcement and felt welcomed and understood in an environment that would normally be impossible for me.'

'In addition to the announcement by Alan Cumming, the BBC and BAFTA, I can only add that I am, and always have been deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning.

'I was in attendance to celebrate the film of my life, I Swear, which more than any film or TV documentary, explains the origins, condition, traits and manifestations of Tourette Syndrome.

'I have spent my life trying to support and empower the Tourette’s community and to teach empathy, kindness and understanding from others and I will continue to do so.

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'I chose to leave the auditorium early into the ceremony as I was aware of the distress my tics were causing.'

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