by Leyla MohammedBuzzFeedBuzzFeed StaffAs a Celebrity Reporter, I cover everything from fashion and award shows to TV, film, and cultural conversations. A viral X post has reminded internet users of the time Ryan Coogler was mistakenly accused of robbing a bank after he tried discreetly withdrawing money - and there's a whole load of renewed backlash. Michael Buckner / Getty Images If you missed it, the film director - who is best known for making Black Panther and Sinners - was detained and handcuffed by members of the Atlanta Police Department in January 2022, who mistook him for a bank robber. Jeff Spicer / Getty Images The incident occurred after Ryan attempted to discreetly withdraw $12,000 from his bank account by handing the teller a note and providing his ID, bank card, and PIN number. Brianna Bryson / Getty Images In bodycam footage that was released by the police, the bank teller - who was pregnant - could be heard telling cops, "My stomach started turning...I have to protect myself. I have to protect my child." The teller also told police that Ryan's account had flagged that the transaction was "high-risk" - and that she'd decided to call 911 after telling her manager that she was uncomfortable. Xny / Getty Images Ryan, who was wearing sunglasses, a hat, and a face mask, said that he was waiting for his money to be handed over by the teller when he heard the guns being pulled from holsters behind him. Gilbert Flores / Getty Images "Woah, woah, what's going on?" Ryan asked as officers instructed him to put his hands behind his back. He immediately did, with a cop then proceeding to handcuff him before escorting him outside.
Ryan went on to explain to the officers that he regularly gave bank tellers notes when withdrawing cash in order to remain discreet.
In the full bodycam footage, Ryan explained that the money was for a medical assistant who works for his family, who preferred to be paid in cash. He also told police that the teller "got scared when a Black dude handed her a note," adding, "If she was scared, she's got to admit that." Shortly after the footage and incident report were made public, Ryan said in a statement to Variety, "This situation should never have happened. However, Bank of America worked with me and addressed it to my satisfaction, and we have moved on." Emma Mcintyre / Getty Images As mentioned, the footage resurfaced online this week, prompting numerous internet users to share their renewed thoughts. Amid the discourse, many people suggested that they felt Ryan was racially profiled, which the American Civil Liberties Union defines as the "discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on the individual's race, ethnicity, religion or national origin." Axelle / Getty Images For context, both Ryan and the bank teller are Black. "This is still infuriating," read one popular tweet responding to the bodycam footage. "If I were robbing a bank, why the fuck would I be submitting a withdrawal slip and attaching an account number," someone else questioned. @marclamonthill / Via x.com "the teller didn't misread shit, Ryan Coogler gave his ID, bank card, and PIN! he was being profiled," one person suggested. "So if the teller gave him time to put his pin in, hand over his ID and bank card she couldn't see he had the funds to withdraw PRIOR to deciding to call the police," another person wrote. John Nacion / Getty Images "The note wasn't miss read it was racial profiling. He handed her his bank card and ID but still got cuffed," someone tweeted, while another person echoed, "racial profiling at its finest!""I'm still mad about this," one more user wrote. Let us know what you think in the comments. Comments