Farrelly and Mortensen have previously faced criticism. Mortensen made headlines and later apologized for using the n-word while promoting "Green Book," which Ali addressed during a subsequent event: "I can accept and embrace his apology," Ali said of his co-star, before adding that "the use of the word by those who aren't black is not up for debate. The history of discrimination, slavery, pain, oppression and violence that the word has come to symbolize only causes harm to members of the black community and therefore needs to be left in the past."