Benedict Cumberbatch Apologizes for Calling Black Actors ‘Colored’
Benedict Cumberbatch, who is currently trailing frontrunner and fellow Brit Eddie Redmayne in a heated Best Actor Oscar race, is playing defense of Tuesday after using the word “colored” (or, rather “coloured”) to describe black actors during an appearance on Tavis Smiley’s PBS talk show.
“I think as far as coloured actors go, it gets really different in the UK, and a lot of my friends have had more opportunities here [in America] than in the UK, and that’s something that needs to change,” Cumberbatch said last week.
Positive sentiment, but perhaps not the best choice of words.
While Smiley either didn’t pick up on the comment or decided not to address it during the interview, Cumberbatch did receive some criticism for using the outdated term and has released a statement apologizing for any offense (or, rather, “offence”) he may have caused:
“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.”
For his part, Smiley offered up his support for Cumberbatch on Twitter, sharing a link to the full interview and letting him know there are no hard feelings:
Those who saw Benedict Cumberbatch on @PBS, know he feels persons of color are underrepresented in #Hollywood.
http://t.co/EcmciKpvgF
— Tavis Smiley (@tavissmiley) January 27, 2015
Watch video below, via PBS:
[Photo via screengrab]
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