Sinners Star Jayme Lawson Criticizes BAFTA Incident

Lawson calls out lack of inclusivity and protection at the British awards show

Mar. 2, 2026 at 10:31pm

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Actress Jayme Lawson, star of the film Sinners, spoke out about the incident at the recent BAFTA Awards where guest John Davidson, who has Tourette Syndrome, shouted the N-word at presenters Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo. Lawson criticized the BAFTA organization and the BBC for failing to properly handle the situation and protect the Black actors involved.

Why it matters

Lawson's comments highlight ongoing issues with inclusivity and representation in the entertainment industry, where marginalized groups often face exploitation and lack of support, even at high-profile events meant to celebrate their achievements.

The details

In her remarks, Lawson praised Jordan and Lindo for handling the incident with "grace and dignity," but said the BAFTA organization failed to provide the "necessary resources to keep them and everyone else in that room safe." She also criticized the BBC for airing the offensive language and censoring the speech of another Black filmmaker, Akinola Davies Jr. Lawson said these actions showed a "lack of care" for the "dignity" and "humanity" of the Black creatives involved.

  • The incident occurred at the BAFTA Awards last weekend.
  • Lawson spoke about the issue on the red carpet of the NAACP Image Awards on March 1, 2026.

The players

Jayme Lawson

An actress starring in the film Sinners, who spoke out about the BAFTA incident.

Michael B. Jordan

An actor who was presenting at the BAFTA Awards when the incident occurred.

Delroy Lindo

An actor who was presenting at the BAFTA Awards when the incident occurred.

John Davidson

A guest at the BAFTA Awards who has Tourette Syndrome and shouted the N-word at Jordan and Lindo while they were onstage.

Akinola Davies Jr.

A Black filmmaker whose speech at the BAFTA Awards was censored by the BBC.

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What they’re saying

“Just because you invite someone into a space, but you don't provide the necessary resources to keep them and everyone else in that room safe by them being there, that's not inclusivity. That's exploitation.”

— Jayme Lawson, Actress

“That man's disability got exploited that night, and it led to multiple offenses. That's the BAFTA's fault. And then the BBC to air what they aired is careless — and not like some haphazard accident — a real lack of care was exercised for those two Black men.”

— Jayme Lawson, Actress

“I'd just like to officially say, we appreciate all the support and love we have been shown in the aftermath of what happened last weekend. It means a lot to us.”

— Delroy Lindo

What’s next

The BAFTA organization has not yet commented on the incident or Lawson's criticisms. It remains to be seen if they will address the issues raised and implement changes to improve inclusivity and safety at future events.

The takeaway

Lawson's comments underscore the ongoing challenges of true inclusion and representation in the entertainment industry, where marginalized groups continue to face exploitation and lack of support, even at high-profile events meant to celebrate their achievements. This incident highlights the need for greater accountability and meaningful action from industry organizations to protect and uplift diverse voices.