Spike Lee Opens Up About Delroy Lindo’s Oscar Loss For ‘Sinners’

Following the 2026 Academy Awards, in an interview with Variety, Spike Lee expressed disappointment that Delroy Lindo did not win Best Supporting Actor in Sinners.

While Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, was a major competitor with 16 nominations at the Academy Awards and significant wins, Lee felt the film deserved more recognition.

Before the awards ceremony, Sinners followed a strong awards season. The film was a major contender throughout the season with 18 nominations at the 2026 NAACP Image Awards, 17 at the Critics’ Choice Awards, 13 at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs), and seven at the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards.  

During an interview with Variety, while Sinners won, Lee highlighted that Lindo deserved more love.

“I wanted a little more love for Sinners,” said Lee.”My one big, big, big disappointment was Delroy Lindo,” he added. 

At the Oscars, Sinners took home four awards in major categories, including Michael B. Jordan for Best Actor, Coogler for Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score.

With 16 nominations and only 4 wins for the night, it is only natural that some, like Spike Lee, felt the film’s achievements did not reflect the impact and performances Sinners had.

Many fans criticized Lindo’s loss for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Sinners, saying the Academy once again failed to recognize Lindo. In 2021, at the 93rd Academy Awards, Lindo failed to receive recognition for his performance in the Spike Lee film Da 5 Bloods and was snubbed for an Oscar.

A well-deserved first-ever Oscar nomination, Lindo, the 73-years-old, is a widely respected actor in the industry who delivers memorable performances.

Lindo’s character, Delta Slim, held cultural significance in the film Sinners. Slim, a gifted yet troubled blues musician, is haunted by his past. He transforms from a man who self-medicates with liquor to cope with his past into a courageous figure who sacrifices himself for the preservation of Black/African-American cultural artistry. 

A sacrifice of redemption, Lindo’s character held great significance for the Black community. Slim was a cultural tie to the African American history and the historical significance of the blues.

Despite Lindo’s loss, Lee praised the film’s history-making impact and recognition in the industry. Michael B. Jordan became the sixth Black man to receive an Oscar for Best Actor.

Coogler became the second Black filmmaker to win an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and the first director to win Best Ensemble at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, now Actor Awards. Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman and woman of color to win an Oscar for Best Cinematography, and Wunmi Mosaku became the first Black British actress to win Best Supporting Actress at the BAFTAs for her role as Annie in Sinners.

While Sinners made history for Black culture in the film industry and gained lots of recognition, Lindo’s loss highlights the need for greater recognition that needs to be done within the Black community and the film industry.