‘Black Panther’ Director Handcuffed After Being Mistakenly Racially Profiled As Bank Robber

Film director Ryan Coogler, who was filming a Marvel Studios movie in Atlanta, was wrongfully arrested after he was mistaken for a bank robber by a teller while he was attempting to make a withdrawal, a report said on Wednesday, March 9.

Coogler, who has been behind the Hollywood blockbusters "Creed" and "Black Panther," went to a Bank of America branch on Jan. 7 to withdraw money from his personal account, with two of his colleagues waiting outside the bank with the engine running, according to Variety.

The director then handed a withdrawal slip to the teller with a note behind it that read, “I would like to withdraw $12,000 cash from my checking account. Please do the money count somewhere else. I’d like to be discreet.”

However, the teller interpreted it as a bank robbery note due to the fact that the amount exceeds $10,000 and Coogler was wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a face mask when he handed over the note. She informed the bank’s manager and they immediately called the police for the robbery attempt, the New York Daily News reported.

Four Atlanta police officers arrived at the scene, where they arrested the two colleagues after they said that they were waiting for Coogler, and then promptly arrested Coogler inside the bank. They were released after a few hours once Coogler’s identity was confirmed.

“We deeply regret that this incident occurred. It never should have happened and we have apologized to Mr. Coogler,” a spokesperson for Bank of America said.

Meanwhile, the film director has kept silent regarding the situation and has made little comment on it publicly, saying only that the incident should not have occurred. It is unclear if the teller or manager faced any disciplinary actions against them for the incident.

“This situation should never have happened,” he said. “However, Bank of America worked with me and addressed it to my satisfaction and we have moved on.”

Coogler is in Atlanta filming the second "Black Panther" movie, which is set to release in November of this year.