2026 NAACP Awards: What Happened to 'Sinners' Star Michael B. Jordan Has Everyone Talking
Six days after a deeply uncomfortable incident at the BAFTA Awards in London, Hollywood found its footing Saturday night at the 57th NAACP Image Awards in Pasadena — and used the occasion to make something clear.
What are the NAACP Image Awards?
The NAACP Image Awards, now in their 57th year, are among the most prestigious honors in American entertainment. Presented annually by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the awards celebrate outstanding achievements by people of color in film, television, music, and literature. Unlike most major awards shows, the Image Awards are explicitly rooted in a mission — recognizing not just artistic excellence but the broader cultural impact of Black storytelling and Black artists in an industry that has historically marginalized them. Saturday's ceremony was held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium and hosted by comedian Deon Cole.
What Happened at the BAFTAs
On February 22, while Jordan and Lindo were presenting the visual effects award during the BAFTA ceremony in London, an audience member with Tourette syndrome involuntarily shouted a racial slur. The moment was captured on the BBC's live broadcast.
The controversy that followed wasn't directed at the man with the condition. It was directed at BAFTA. The ceremony had been broadcast on a time delay — meaning producers had the opportunity to edit the moment out before it aired. They edited other portions of the show, including political statements. The slur made it to air anyway. Warner Bros., the studio behind Sinners, reportedly requested it be removed.
Both Jordan and Lindo handled the moment with composure, pausing briefly before continuing their presentation.
The NAACP's Answer
From the opening moments of Saturday's ceremony, the NAACP Image Awards provided something the BAFTAs hadn't: a room fully prepared to show up for Jordan and Lindo.
Host Deon Cole set the tone early, joking in his opening monologue that anyone in the audience with Tourette syndrome should "read the room" — a line that landed to knowing laughter.
When Scary Movie 6 actress Regina Hall took the stage to present the first award of the evening, she paused before announcing the winner. "Take a moment for the kings in the audience," she said, nodding toward Jordan and Lindo, praising them for their "class." The auditorium rose to its feet.
Quinta Brunson, accepting her award for best actress in a comedy series for Abbott Elementary, kept it simple. "We see you," she told the Sinners cast and crew. "We're behind you. Love you."
@revolt A standing ovation is EXACTLY what they deserve ???? Delroy Lindo thanked everyone at the NAACP Image Awards for their love & support after last week’s incident at the BAFTA Awards with Michael B. Jordan ???????? He attended the award show as a presenter alongside Ryan Coogler ???? #delroylindo #ryancoogler #michaelbjordan #sinners #naacpimageawards
♬ original sound - REVOLT
The most significant moment came roughly an hour into the ceremony, when Delroy Lindo took the stage alongside Sinners writer-director Ryan Coogler to loud applause. It was Lindo's first public comment since the BAFTA incident.
"I'd just like to officially say — I appreciate, we appreciate, all the support and love we have been shown in the aftermath of what happened last weekend," Lindo said. "It means a lot to us."
Sinners entered the night leading all films with 18 nominations and left with 11 wins — including best actor for Michael B. Jordan and best motion picture. It was, by any measure, the dominant story of the evening.