Jayme Lawson Calls BAFTA Response 'Exploitation' After N-Word Outburst; NAACP Image Awards Rally Around Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo
jayme lawson used the NAACP Image Awards red carpet to sharply criticize how a racial-slur outburst at the BAFTA Awards was handled, calling the situation exploitation and praising Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo for their composure. Her comments framed a broader debate over inclusion, broadcast decisions, and who is protected in high-profile ceremony settings.
Jayme Lawson: inviting people without protection is exploitation
On the NAACP Image Awards red carpet, jayme lawson said that inviting someone into a space without providing the necessary resources to keep everyone safe is not inclusivity but exploitation. She gave a "big shout-out" to Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo, applauding how they handled an incident in real time when the N-word was shouted at them while they were onstage to present at the British awards ceremony.
What Lawson called out: exploitation, failure to protect, and censorship
Lawson characterized the episode as an instance in which a man’s disability was exploited, leading to multiple offenses, and placed responsibility on BAFTA for failing to protect those targeted. She also criticized the broadcaster’s decision to air the moment as careless rather than an accident, saying it reflected a real lack of care. Lawson added that the broadcaster had shown it knows how to control content in other instances, pointing to the censorship of other words and the editing of Akinola Davies Jr. ’s speech—the director of My Father’s Shadow—calling that film "an amazing film. "
Names invoked: Akinola Davies Jr., Hannah Beachler and Ryan Coogler
Lawson noted that the broadcaster censored one Black man while failing to protect two others and the production designer Hannah Beachler. She framed these actions as a failure to value dignity and humanity, saying that while institutions may celebrate Black art they are not always willing to protect Black artists. She singled out celebration of the film Sinners and its filmmaker Ryan Coogler as reasons people continue to show up to events like the NAACP Image Awards, which she described as spaces where those present have felt safe.
NAACP Image Awards reaction: standing ovations, praise and solidarity
The NAACP Image Awards ceremony itself provided an outpouring of support. Regina Hall asked the audience to "take a moment" and gestured toward Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo, calling them "two kings" in the audience; the pair received a loud round of applause that developed into a standing ovation. The ceremony, held inside the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, further acknowledged the moment throughout the telecast.
Voices on the stage: Deon Cole, Quinta Brunson, and Delroy Lindo
Host Deon Cole opened with a monologue framed like a prayer that included jokes about Teyana Taylor’s relationship status, 50 Cent’s pettiness and Nicki Minaj’s politics, closing with a comment advising white men with Tourette’s to "read the room tonight. " Quinta Brunson, who won the Image Award for outstanding actress in a comedy series, took a moment to celebrate the Sinners cast and crew, telling them the community sees and supports them. Later in the ceremony, Delroy Lindo took the stage with Ryan Coogler to present an award and thanked supporters, saying he appreciated the outpouring of support and calling the response a "classic case of something that could be very negative becoming very positive. "
