Turns out, Academy Award nominee Benedict Cumberbatch may not be a perfect human being, after all. The current star of Sherlock and future lead in Doctor Strange has managed through his career to remain scandal free. Nothing sticks to the guy, except new nicknames for his fans, The Cumberbitches.
Unfortunately, he did recently use an outdated and not-at-all politically correct term to describe black people. While discussing diversity in the entertainment industry in an interview with Tavis Smiley on PBS last week, he said that as “far as colored actors go,” there were more opportunities in the U.S. than Britain, “and that’s something that needs to change.”
Good sentiment, but WRONG choice of word.
Cumberbatch has since issued an apology, calling himself an “idiot” for referring to non-white actors as “colored actors,” saying it was a “thoughtless use of inappropriate language.”
“I’m devastated to have caused offence by using this outmoded terminology,” he added. “I offer my sincere apologies. I make no excuse for my being an idiot and know the damage is done.”
At least he recognized the offense and apologized. And if you’re wondering: “Colored” is also an offensive and outdated term in Cumberbatch’s home country of Britain, too.
Source: Page 6
