Celebrities can encounter many shocking events at award shows, and there are numerous examples of this. Now, Michael B. Jordan has become part of a new example. He was presenting an award at the BAFTA Film Awards when someone from the audience shouted the n-word. This event left people shocked and heartbroken, but it wasn’t a case of intentional racism.
At the awards ceremony, Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting the Best Visual Effects Award. Michael started talking about how he and Delroy were delighted to be presenting the award. The moment he finished his sentence, a person from the crowd yelled the horrible slur. At that shocking moment, both Michael and Delroy, along with the crowd, were left stunned. They remained silent for a few seconds before Delroy courageously continued talking.
While in any other situation, this would be a clear case of someone being racist, this situation was different. It turned out that the person who yelled this racial slur was John Davidson who has Tourette’s. He is also a Tourette’s campaigner. Part of his tics are outbursts that might include cursing which was what happened here. It is such an unfortunate and hurtful event that no one could have predicted.
People Reacting to the Horrible Moment Michael B. Jordan Went Through
A lot of people felt terrible for Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo after the n-word was shouted at them. The silence that followed made one person write, “The pause after he said it broke my heart. I feel awful for Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo.” Others felt bad for everyone involved as another person said, “Worst case scenario all around for everyone involved here. Wow.” Someone else wrote, “Man this is so unfortunate, I just feel bad for everyone involved.” One Redditor also pointed out how the situation is still hurtful even if Davidson didn’t mean to say it as they wrote:
“I blame the organizers. People should have been made aware that someone in the audience had Tourette’s and that something offensive may be yelled at different points. For Lindo and Jordan, this must have been an extremely painful moment. As far as they would know, someone chose to be extremely racist at a major moment for them professionally and personally. All the while, they had to continue being professional. Even when caused by Tourette’s the n-word is still a violent and painful word. That being said, knowing it was caused by Tourette’s may have helped in the moment and would have provided immediate context afterwards.”
More people expressed how they felt terrible for Michael B. Jordan and Delroy due to this hurtful situation. “Delroy and Michael did not deserve this and I’m angry for them. Imagine being in the industry for decades and still have to deal with such dehumanization. Regardless that it was involuntary, they (and black people in general) have the right to be disturbed and upset by this,” one person wrote. They have got a point. Another person said, “Everyone involved in the situation has the right to be upset. Being called the n-word is so dehumanizing and has a way of making you feel like nothing you do will ever get people to see you as a person. I’ve never gotten used to it. I also imagine he feels like garbage knowing that his disability harmed people.” It’s definitely a heartbreaking situation.
