Cumberbatch slammed for race comments

Sherlock actor issues apology for using the term ‘coloured’ when referring to dark-skinned British artistes


Ians January 28, 2015
Cumberbatch made the controversial remark last week when he appeared on the show Tavis Smiley. PHOTO: AFP

LOS ANGELES: Actor Benedict Cumberbatch recently came under the gun for using the term ‘coloured’ while referring to dark-skinned actors on a talk show. ‘Devastated’ by his own lack of political correctness, he issued an immediate apology. “I’m devastated to have caused offence by using this outmoded terminology. I offer my sincere apologies. I make no excuse for my being an idiot and know the damage is done,” the 38-year-old actor said in a statement.

“I can only hope this incident will highlight the need for correct usage terminology, which is accurate and inoffensive. The most shaming aspect of this for me is that I was talking about racial inequality in the performing arts in Britain and the need for rapid improvements in our industry when I used the term,” he added. His statement further read, “I apologise again to anyone I offended for this thoughtless use of inappropriate language about an issue which affect friends of mine and which I care about deeply.”

Cumberbatch made the controversial remark last week when he appeared on the show Tavis Smiley. When he was asked about ‘black’ British actors Chiwetel Ejiofor and David Oyelowo, who starred in 12 Years a Slave and Selma, he said, “I think, as far as coloured actors go, it gets really different in Britain, and a lot of my friends have had more opportunities here (in the United States) than in Britain, and that’s something that needs to change.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2015.

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