Thought this essay was on point.
Impact, not intent
Posted by Liberal Librarian
February 24, 2026
If you’ve been on social media for the past two days, you know what happened at the BAFTA awards on Sunday. As Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were onstage presenting an award, John Davidson, a man with Tourette’s syndrome whose life story was the subject of a nominated film, screamed out the N-word. Not a one-off, he also uttered the slur twice more at other Black artists. During the show, host Alan Cumming thanked the audience for “understanding” Mr. Davidson’s outburst.
Both BAFTA and the BBC, the broadcaster for the evening in the UK, made dutiful, boilerplate apologies. Mr. Davidson issued a statement saying he was “mortified” that people would think his outburst was who he was.
In all this, all the attention and care were aimed at John Davidson. He was the one who had to be consoled. He was the one who had to be assured that he’d done nothing wrong. He couldn’t help it. It was involuntary. Not once were Mr. Jordan or Mr. Lindo considered. No, of course not. They had to “rise above it”, like latter-day Jackie Robinsons, for the greater good.
I observed the oncoming storm on social media. What I saw was mostly white commenters excusing Mr. Davidson, with increasing vitriol, to the point where they labeled anyone countering them as “ableist”. I saw comments saying that Mr. Davidson did not need to apologize to anyone; to do so would be to apologize for being who he was. Again, all the care and concern from these commenters were aimed at Mr. Davidson. None was shown to Messrs Jordan and Lindo.
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But his intent is not the issue for me. For me it is the impact his outburst had, not only on Messrs Jordan and Lindo, but on Black people in general. For me the issue is how certain segments rushed to defend Mr. Davidson, while absolutely downplaying the impact of his uttering that word. Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were ciphers in this drama, mere stage scenery to Mr. Davidson’s bravery for not hiding away from the world and being at British film’s golden night. They could have been any two Black men; anyone will do. Society treats Black pain as insignificant. Society will always favor another marginalized community over Black hurt. This is in full bloom in this incident.
This is the final week of Black History Month in the United States, and it is very illuminating that this event occurred during this month. Mr. Davidson’s defenders stripped him of all agency, depicting him as a helpless disabled man who cannot possibly be held to account for his actions. Meanwhile they demanded that Messrs Jordan and Lindo take the high road and not react. As Mr. Lindo told Vanity Fair afterwards, he and Mr. Jordan “did what they had to do” to get through the segment. How many countless Black people have said the same thing? How many countless Black people have had to swallow and carry on so as to not jeopardize themselves? This is why Black people are not out on the streets; why should they trust that “allies” will be there to back them up, rather than using them as cannon fodder? We’re seeing this in real time with Representative Jasmine Crockett’s bid for the Senate seat in Texas: white liberals went from “Go Jasmine!!” to “She can’t win, she’s divisive, I’d vote for a Black woman just not her.” Black people simply cannot count on any one group being an ally; allyship is always conditional, to be withdrawn just at the moment when it is most needed.
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Kaiser@Celebitchy
@KaiseratCB
throughout this mind-numbing controversy, it’s worth noting that BAFTA’s President has not said one word.
https://x.com/KaiseratCB/status/2026333707921965356?s=20Variety
@Variety
BAFTA Says a ‘Comprehensive Review Is Underway’ Over Film Awards N-Word Incident in Letter to Members: ‘Our Intention to Be Inclusive in No Way Diminishes the Impact’
https://x.com/Variety/status/2026322330608136428?s=20
min. ᓭི༏ᓯྀ ˖ ࣪ .
@P1NKPALAIS
this tweet being the perfect example of why I say white people especially leftists use black elites to funnel criticism and their disdain towards black people
https://x.com/P1NKPALAIS/status/2026066783510094312?s=20chris evans
@notcapnamerica
They really believe Black people having money somehow cancels out the impact of racism.
https://x.com/notcapnamerica/status/2026337016003092924?s=20
Renee
@PettyLupone
First thing I asked is why it wasn’t edited because anyone with a working brain would not allow that slur to make it to air.You all will never be able to gaslight Black people about the impact of the n word.
It’s laughable that you would still even try.
https://x.com/PettyLupone/status/2026322000638288242?s=20
Mary Burrell
@MaryBur71233913
I am reading BAFTA and BBC have a racist history. I feel it was intentional. Sinners was a phenomenal success and if we are being honest many white people didn’t like the story arc and are offended by it. I feel BAFTA wanted to ruin Black History Month for Black people.
9:59 AM · Feb 24, 2026
https://x.com/MaryBur71233913/status/2026326042214813714?s=20
The Neighborhood Publicist
@nhoodpublicist
BAFTA’s didn’t expect all this backlash because it’s not enough Black folks in Britain or that space to cause problems for them. But you sent for Black Americans and we will beat a mofo horse till it’s dead behind ours. And yes I know DelRoy British but that’s our uncle on our mama side.
10:14 AM · Feb 24, 2026
https://x.com/nhoodpublicist/status/2026329885442965681?s=20
The New York Times
@nytimes
Breaking News: The Justice Department did not release key records in the Epstein files about a woman who made an unverified accusation against Donald Trump, in which she said Trump assaulted her in the 1980s when she was a minor.
https://x.com/nytimes/status/2026707841239670926?s=20
Pete Buttigieg
@PeteButtigieg
So, the Trump DOJ failed to release files concerning an Epstein accuser with claims involving Trump… but did manage to accidentally reveal that the files existed?
Americans are fed up with this administration’s mix of incompetence and corruption. Time to come clean.
https://x.com/PeteButtigieg/status/2026709967491780801?s=20
Greg Sargent
@gregsargent.bsky.social
Follow
“We are dealing now with an allegation that the president of the US raped and sexually assaulted a child and is now using his DOJ to try to cover that up.”
If you want to understand latest Epstein revelations,
@leahlitman.bsky.social
explains them clearly on our pod:
newrepublic.com/article/2070…
https://bsky.app/profile/gregsargent.bsky.social/post/3mfpb5ofvic2l
Confused Kitty
@theconfusedkitty.bsky.social
Follow
So we now have at least five media organizations reporting on this and actual Congresspeople starting to make waves.
This feels like paving the way for something.
https://bsky.app/profile/theconfusedkitty.bsky.social/post/3mfpehmfsvs2l
STEMthebleeding
@stemthebleeding.bsky.social
Follow
Another thing of note:
The evidence is sufficient enough that legal is signing off on this being released by the networks, especially when you take into consideration that Trump is possibly the most vexatious litigant in modern history.
https://bsky.app/profile/stemthebleeding.bsky.social/post/3mfpetnxcpk2z
Taniel
@taniel.bsky.social
Follow
In a new WaPo-ABC poll, 79% of Democrats say they are certain to vote in November, compared to 65% of Republicans.
The largest gap in that question since 2006.
(You’re basically seeing exactly this in special election after special election.) http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
9:36 AM · Feb 25, 2026
https://bsky.app/profile/taniel.bsky.social/post/3mfoz2y44522x
Kyle Griffin
@kylegriffin1
BREAKING MS NOW:
@lawofruby
reports DOJ directed reviewers to flag FBI interview memos before it produced the latest Epstein files.
That follows MS NOW reporting that DOJ appears to have withheld memos on three interviews with a woman who accused Epstein and Trump of assault.
9:30 AM · Feb 25, 2026
https://x.com/kylegriffin1/status/2026681113586888900?s=20
Protect Our Care
@protectourcare.org
Follow
Governor Spanberger: They’re even making it more difficult to see a doctor. Rural health clinics in Virginia and across the country are already closing their doors, thanks to the so-called ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ championed by the president and Republicans in Congress.
https://bsky.app/profile/protectourcare.org/post/3mfnt7mfzlc23
Aaron Rupar
@atrupar.com
Follow
Fox News presents JD Vance with a bunch of polls showing Trump is as much as 19 points underwater on the economy. Vance’s response is to deflect by claiming “the Biden administration left us a disaster of an economy.”
https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mfoztxohsk2r
Kyle Griffin
@kylegriffin1
DHS’s plans to temporarily suspend TSA PreCheck were conceived by Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski.
The plan was pulled back only after the White House intervened.
https://x.com/kylegriffin1/status/2026696230227595662?s=20
Katherine Clark
@TeamKClark
Wow.
GOP Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks says Republicans want Americans to have more expensive health care so they have “skin in the game” and an “incentive” to “exercise more” instead of “over-utilizing” doctors.
https://x.com/TeamKClark/status/2026332931740844512?s=20
@GregTSargent
Trump cratering in new polls:
CNN
Approval: 36-63
Among working class: 41-58
Independents: 26-73 (!!!)
WAPO
Approval: 39-60
On immigration: 40-58
Tariffs: 34-64
On the pod, Julia Azari and I dig into how his abuses of power are backfiring badly for him:
https://x.com/GregTSargent/status/2026281466917777732?s=20
Maine
@TheMaineWonk
The only reason Trump ran in 2024: He knew Jack Smith had him by the balls & only way he’d stay out of federal prison, was to win re-election.
So he made deals with big donors like Adelson, Thiel, Musk, Mellon and other for their support & resources.
Do you get it yet?
https://x.com/TheMaineWonk/status/2026395430087467310?s=20
L’Etat C’est Moi
@letatcestmoi.bsky.social
Follow
The key thing to know about the #BlackJewishAlliance:
The people who hate Jews also hate Blacks.
The people who hate Blacks also hate Jews.
#Charlottesville
#BlackandJewishAmerica
8:40 PM · Feb 24, 2026
https://bsky.app/profile/letatcestmoi.bsky.social/post/3mfnnrlcpuc2l
Mark Chadbourn
@chadbourn.bsky.social
Follow
US House Speaker Mike Johnson on Newsmax: “If we lost the midterms—heaven forbid, if we lost the majority in the House—it would, in real effect, be the end of the Trump presidency.”
5:38 AM · Feb 25, 2026
https://bsky.app/profile/chadbourn.bsky.social/post/3mfolsfbrv227
Good Morning, Everyone😊😊😊
He should be mortified and should have exited himself after first outburst. Period. All together different from swearing- period…