Here are some photos of David Oyelowo and his wife at last night’s London premiere of Selma. I cannot even tell you how much I loved David in Selma. He was a revelation and it really is a star-making performance. It’s such a shame that he wasn’t recognized for any major awards nominations for it. But the struggle continues! David spoke to Radio 1’s Newsbeat on the red carpet and they asked him about Benedict Cumberbatch’s “colored actors” comment. David defended Benedict!
David Oyelowo has rallied to the aid of Benedict Cumberbatch, following a gaffe during an interview on US radio in which he referred to black actors using the outmoded term ‘coloured’. Oyelowo was collared while at the UK premiere ‘Selma’, the movie in which he plays civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr.
“I think it’s ridiculous,” Oyelowo told Radio 1’s Newsbeat. “When you look at what he was actually saying it’s clear that he’s a huge supporter of black performers. To attack him for a term, as opposed to what he was actually saying, I think is very disingenuous and is indicative of the age we live in where people are looking for sound bites as opposed to substance.”
He added that he had contacted Cumberbatch to offer his support, after the actor made a public apology for using the term.
“I reached out to him in support and said I think it’s ridiculous,” he said.
Asked if he felt Hollywood has an issue with diversity, Oyelowo said ‘absolutely’.
“You can see that in the fact every time a film of this size and stature comes up,” he added. “We’re talking about diversity again and that’s because there isn’t enough of it. Excellence is the best weapon against prejudice. I intend to be part of the solution and not the problem. You’ve just got to keep on banging out good performances. [Cumberbatch is] a brilliant actor, he gives a brilliant performance in Imitation Game and, like I say, it’s just a diversion from what we should be talking about, which is that astounding performance.”
He added: “In America we use the term ‘people of colour’. Is that a million miles different than saying coloured? I know it’s an outdated term but… he was clearly doing something that I think was pretty beautiful.”
Benedict’s saving grace was that he used the outdated term while discussing the need for more diversity in film. While I don’t think we should be like “Oh, David Oyelowo says it’s okay, everything’s fine,” I do think David’s words are welcome in the conversation. As he says, the conversation should be on the larger problems of diversity in film and television, perfectly illustrated by the whitest Oscars in more than a decade. Did Benedict deserve some backlash? Of course. Did Benedict need to give us a groveling apology? Well, it helped. It also helps that Benedict has friends like David Oyelowo in the industry.
Photos courtesy of Getty, WENN.
I agree with David. As I said on the thread yesterday, there’s a very small semantic difference between ‘colored people’ and ‘people of color.’ What we have to focus on is intent, which given the context of the original remarks, was positive.
If we’re going to have a conversation about race and racism and actions to increase equality, we’re going to have to stop trying to annihilate everyone who makes a misstep. Making sincere people too afraid to speak is counter-productive.
I agree. Context is very important. I think Oyelowo nailed it when he said the outrage is “indicative of the age we live in where people are looking for sound bites as opposed to substance.”
You put it in less words than me, but absolutely agree with this.
Absolutely agree with you on this one, especially the last sentence. So many things to say, so many opinions to share and discussions to be had, and yet I find that many people won’t simply because of this fear of having their word(s) ripped apart, rather than focussing on the message itself.
I don’t like the term ‘people of colour’, nor do I like ‘coloured’, hence I use neither and abstain from generalisations or collective references based on skin colour. We all are coloured in one way, shape or fashion. Is white not a colour anymore?
If we get really literal, I’d say peach is more precise. At least, that’s the color from the crayon box I used to color white people in the coloring books as a child 😛
If you come from SA or Zimbabwe formerly Rhodesia ‘coloured’ people are an actual race used to distinguishe between people who were/are not Black and not white although it’s expanded to include mixed race people. It means something completely different from ‘people of Colour’.
Personally I object to being referred to as a ‘person of colour’. I am black and that’s that.
See I always wonder if it’s okay to say “black” nowadays? Most of us are very careful not to offend but don’t know how to do things correctly. I’m Canadian so saying “African American” makes no sense. Saying “African Canadian” just isn’t heard around here. I don’t want to reduce someone to simply the color of their skin, but I have no problem with someone calling me “white”. My son who is 5 will sometimes refer to a friend of his as “the boy who is brown” when I ask him which boy is John for instance. He’s just being literal, same as describing him as the boy in the blue shirt.
So what do they say in the UK? Maybe Benedict stumbled with trying to use an appropriate term? I’m still glad he apologized.
Nothing offensive about black but it’s also context that matters as well. If someone cuts you off in traffic and you mention they’re black when you’re venting about it, why is their race relevant? I’ve heard whites do that then get defensive “well black isn’t offensive and I was just stating a fact”. Not the point…
Both in Canada and in the UK I use the actual colour word, be it brown, bladk, pink or white. Thank God, in both countries all people are actually considered the same and no need to define them with some ridiculous phrases and twists of language.
But it’s the internet what are we to do if we don’t freak out over everything
Good question!
AIEEEEEEEEEEEE!
“If we’re going to have a conversation about race and racism and actions to increase equality, we’re going to have to stop trying to annihilate everyone who makes a misstep. Making sincere people too afraid to speak is counter-productive. ”
beautiful! that sums my feelings up. the people attacking Cumberbatch are not actually interested in a discussion, they want to ruin peoples reputations and assinate their character because of one word. they are calling a guy who talks about how people of color are disadvantaged a racist…
+100000!
+10000
I agree 100%. It is so hard to talk about race, it is impossible to have a dialogue without missteps.
I also love David Oyelowo. He was the best part of Lee Daniel’s “The Butler” , I can’t even talk about Selma without fawning over his work, and I cannot wait to see what he does in Americanah.
I so agree with David and appreciate his comments. Even his using “black” throws me because I remember a few years ago when that was considered offensive. I’m not even sure if “African-American” is still appropriate. We can’t have the important discussions necessary to change the problem if we play “Gotcha!” with the people brave enough to join the conversation.
I am Black and most Blacks that I know prefer Black to African American.I have relatives who will curse me out if I refer to them as AA.There view is we don’t call Whites,European Americans.I’m fine with either term.
Well it wouldn’t be appropriate to call Oyelowo African-American. :p
I refer to myself as black.
I don’t think anyone attack him, they corrected him. I am offended this actor came to his defense since it was not needed. BC said he was sorry and that was the end of that.
Your are offended that David came to Benedict’s aid? How could you be offended by someone coming to the aid of another especially if the defender could provide valuable insight? This is part of the problem, people get offended over nothing.
@ultra violet
Exactly. Perfectly put.
Nicely put. For some reason lately it’s become fashionable to feel offended, and watching people scramble to find their dose of daily outrage is somewhat bemusing.
My favorite is the haute couture of being offended on behalf of someone else.
Its probably just as fashionable as the ” Im offended that you are offended crowd “
Totally agree.
Yes to this. While I didn’t think BC should talk on behalf of minority actors, I thought the reaction to his gaffe was a bit extreme.
That was a thoughtful statement from David. His performance in Selma blew me away.
I have no problem with him talking a ABOUT the lack of diversity, he didn’t say he was talking FOR minority actors. Lack of diversity should be important to Everyone. Same with feminism. We go no where as a society if those two aren’t spoken about by the race or gender with power.
I’ve said quite a lot about this on the other thread so will just say – it’s nice to have friends / colleagues who stand up for you, and wow David’s wife is gorgeous
Beautifully stated as are Oyelowo’s comments
I came here to write basically the same thing. Beautifully put.
The linguistic structure “people of colour” is pretentious and lacks foundation because white is also a colour! There are no transparent people, we are all “of colour”! It annoys me a great deal that some Americans think the whole world must speak like them. No, we have our own way of speaking and Benedict deserves absolutely no backlash. He used a term which is exactly as useless and incorrect as “of colour”. The constant attempts to give some name to people of particular colours!!! only emphasizes again and again that there is something “different” about them. There is NOT. We are all “of colour”. Time to stop the ridiculous name giving, in my opinion. Just like I say “white”, I also say black, pink, brown, olive, red, etc. Very simple.
Lamda boys supporting each other.
He said that it’s an even playing field in Hollywood for black actors which is not true.
The context of that was explained in yesterday’s comments as well.
again what David says, you focus on soundbites instead of context. educate yourself first please. you throw a man under the bus for yourself blindly believing what the media writes when they want to create a scandal from nothing.
Actually, that is not what he said. Context matters as much as words.
He didn’t say that
He said that it’s somewhat better in Hollywood, not that it’s even. Other British actors have expressed that sentiment.
I still think it’s important to note that the term is very outdated, and I think it was important for him to issue an apology, as he did. Beyond that, it’s great that he and David as well are both publicly discussing the need for more diversity in the industry.
Agreed Lucy2. On a superficial note, David Oyelowo is very handsome in these pics. I had no idea he was married though. Unlike some others we wasn’t flaunting his wife to get an Oscar nom!
“flaunting his wife” – how is this possible? Are you referring to an actor simply showing up on the red carpet, accompanied by his spouse?
I don’t think Cumby needed to be attacked for what he said, and I don’t think he’s racist, but I don’t have a problem with people pointing out an unacceptable term. I’m tired of “oh, people are just so sensitive.” How hard is it, really?
Exactly. I dislike some of the over the top and unreasonable PC stuff that you can see but this was not an example of that.
I have found that some people can use “oh it’s the PC Brigade” argument to a perfectly valid calling out on something, as an excuse to feel they can say whatever they want without reproach. It says a lot about them.
@Gnat & Lindsay
Thank you its really quite simple
1.BC from a genuine place made some statements using an archaic term
2, People of all races took the opportunity to educate him about the inappropriateness of the term
3.BC promptly and graciously apologized ( a proper apology too not one of the non apology I m sorry if you were offended BS)
Case Closed
BC is fine and does not need a Black man to come caping for him , its a bit problematic for a man who just played MLK to be basically saying our white allies should never be corrected
And another thing at least BC had the graciousness to accept the correction and move on but Davids comment”In America we use the term ‘people of colour’. Is that a million miles different than saying coloured?
Really ?? I actually find this and some of his other comments more tone deaf /pandering than BC
Agreed!!!
He deserved to be corrected. And now people are coming out of the woodwork saying, ‘Yeah, this isn’t an example of this and that’… you people need to chill. It’s ok to say things as long as the intent is not harmful’ type of vibe.
That’s how we let ignorance slide out of awareness. That’s how people will repeatedly offend. What he was saying in the whole was legitimate and sound. but the archaic term ‘coloured people’ was offensive and hurtful.
+1. Nobody thinks Cumberbatch is racist, but he had to be corrected and realize that what he said is wrong. Normal as that, I don’t see any outrage.
Yeah, he got called out for it and apologized (sincerely) for it; no point in beating the issue any more.
Agree all around.
I found his apology to be sincere, too. It’s long-winded, but that’s how he talks. I am getting a chuckle though picturing him writing/dictating a 1,000+ word apology, and his publicist saying “OK, that’s enough!”
Davids a class act but yeah keep in mind dree’s point
People of color, an antiquated phrase I’ll concede, at least refers to us as PEOPLE- I’ve never thought to refer to a white person as colorless 😒
I skipped the great discussion yesterday because I didn’t want to deal with the mental gymnastics his fans (some, not all) did to justify what was said (on ANY forum, not just this one). He gave a genuine apology so kudos to Benedict because I really hate half arsed ones…
What he said was wrong, period, and as you stated–he deserved to be called out, I’m sure he will NEVER say something like this again (publicly). The context of his words, though important, doesn’t negate from the adjective he used.
I’m sure many people in the industry will rally behind him, he’ll continue to get roles, and will suffer no consequences for what was said-I don’t think he should be blacklisted or labeled a racist ftr- that being said, there’s nothing ridiculous about certain people being offended by his use of the word colored.
I was actually pleased that on here, it seemed most were saying he was right to address and apologize and it’s a word he should never have used. I have seen elsewhere the type of stuff you mention, making excuses because they like him, people overreacted etc. but they’re like that about him no matter what he does.
He’s said it. As I commented on another thread, to me a person of colour does not sound hugely different to a coloured person, and I’m speaking this as someone with ethnic background. Both are terms that are trying to be political correct but end up sounding political incorrect.
Good article about Oyelowo – including some more developed thoughts about diversity – from the Independent last year. I know he’s gaining in popularity around here so some of you might like the read. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/upwardly-mobile-david-oyelowo-on-going-from-tooting-bec-to-tom-cruises-jet-8483779.html
That was a great interview, thanks for sharing!
It’s true that it took a long time for me to get used to Americans using the term “people of color” for precisely the reason that it’s the same semantic root as “coloured” which I find cringeworthy because it divides the world into whites (people!) and everyone else (not people!). However, I’ve spoken to a lot of USians who prefer that term and so I use whatever they feel comfortable with because it’s not about me.
I’m glad Otter Realness™ apologised unreservedly but I still think David’s comments are making a decent point.
“so I use whatever they feel comfortable with because it’s not about me.”
Exactly. That sums it up for me. It doesn’t hurt to respect other people’s decisions about what they choose to be called. Really. It doesn’t.
When you’re talking about a big group of people whom you don’t know personally, I very much doubt you will know what they prefer to be called!
Bendy is not a racist, nobody thinks that about him really but guy is just a little bit foolish. THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK next time, Bendy bitch!!
This!
If this is the whitest Oscars, are we not allowed to celebrate Alejandro Gonzalez Innarritu, nominated for Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay for BIRDMAN, who is Mexican? . Like Alfonso Cuaron from last year.
Mexicans are often white fyi. Hispanic is not a race. Still the whitest Oscars but thanks for engaging in tokenism
Oh I see, we shouldn’t celebrate other ethnicities breaking through.
Got it Claire.
Ditto, Claire.
I’m Mexican, I’m mixed white/native like most Mexicans, but also like many Mexicans, I happen to be mostly white. I’m not a different race, I’m not an ethnicity. If I succeed, I am not “breaking through”.
I respect our native heritage, but I also can never pretend I share that heritage because that would be cultural appropriation, even if we share a nationality, you know what I mean?
Johnny Depp is also white/native, yet I never see him referred to as anything other than white =P
If Guillermo del Toro were nominated, would we be celebrating his “ethnicity”? That’s ridiculous!
Giselle Bundchen is never referred to as a Latina (a term no one in Latin America actually identifies with, because it’s gross, btw). Should we consider her a breakthrough? Please.
@LAK
Its not Innarritus first first nomination, he probably has between 8-10 nominations. Hardly a break through year for him or mexican cinema, the mexican wave happened 10 years ago.
Those guys are established hollywood directors, they are part of the hollywood elite now. He is one of those guys who gets nonimated almost every time he puts out a movie.
You also have to look at the stories they are telling are those guys directing stories that are significantly different from their americans peers?
Lets talk about the movie from mauritius that is nominated for best foreign language movie instead. When is the first african director coming through, or indian ( not just in the foreign language category). when is the next female director or woman of colour gonna win something? Diversity is also about offering up a different perspective on the world. Not just numbers.
+1 mina and dree
It’s perfectly legitimate and warranted to rail against the white-out at the Oscars but to dismiss Innarritu with “Mexicans are often white fyi” is seems like an excuse diminish and erase him.
I have never heard of a white Mexican.
oh, one guy. that’s fine then
smh
Alejandro Gonzalez Innarritu
♥♥♥
(summons Kiddo)
Yup – and Birdman was co-written with 2 argentinians. Although as a fellow Argie it grates me when people consider Latin America an ethnicity and not a geographic region, placing all of us under the same stereotype.
How on earth is “excellence” the solution, a “weapon against prejudice” when there are plenty of “excellent” actors of colour out there, but then roles like Khan are STILL given to white actors anyway? Explain that to me, David.
That’s called respectability politics and just as bad as what otter realness said.
Blimey, is otter realness a legit term of reference now?
Dunno but someone else used it and it reminded me how much I love it. Want to like the guy, as Felice said I just can’t quit him but he is provoking such intense disgust with me lately
Right? I was so thrown off by that sentence…
Waiting for the ‘new black’ comments…..
Ikr
Since you brought it up, if you have time would you explain to me what that means, please?
http://gawker.com/the-curious-case-of-the-new-black-a-conversation-1649462578
Thank you, Crumpet.
The comments indicate that you’re the only one thinking about such.. Would you like to give us your view on this “New Black” situation?
I think Oyelowo is right to an extent but i also think it should be noted that the term is incredibly outdated and one shouldn’t use it in this day and age. I don’t see the harm in that? But of course people should stop short of claiming he is racist. That is certainly ridiculous to me, the objection to an outdated terminology not so much.
As for how this will impact on cumberbatchs oscar chances, i am not sure he would have won anyway. He gives an excellent performance and is in general a very good actor. I have to admit i have yet to see the theory of everything ( and birdman for that matter). But i hear Redmaynes performance is very accomplished.
I recently watched the hollywood reporters roundtable and where redmayne comes across as charming, funny, humble and personable, cumberbatch comes across more bound, humourless and somewhat self important.
So just based on the personalities i am not surprised redmaynes oscar campaign is working out better. Michael Keaton too was such a humble and likeable guy. Timothy spall was hilarious, full of anecdotes and british working class wit. Benny just hasn’t got that kind of charisma in person. He came across as at tad boring compared to the rest.
that’s b/c he is quite boring.
Finally a sensible comment, thank you Mr. Oyelowo. I think the word color should be banned from English word. I honestly don’t know how to talk about ethnicies, I’d better stay out of US or European ancestry people would probably burn me on stake just for saying “that woman is pretty” because ‘that’ is offending word or something. The whole thing has gone beyond ridiculous.
Ugh? In Europe none of this nonsense is happening. You say black just like you say white and that’s all. It is beyond ridiculous, I agree.
It’s sad that in this attention-deficit age , people are so quick to judge without putting things into context. It’s too often contempt before investigation.
Personally, I believe Cumberbatch resorted to the term colored is because he was trying to be inclusive of blacks as well as East Asians. The term in Britain, though outdated, was used to include both groups, ie anyone who isn’t white. In trying to include alk nonwhite actors he he used a shorthand.
How many words can you say in this sound-bite interviews?
From what I have seen the majority of people are saying they agree with his sentiments and he was championing diversity however the outdated word coloured used to describe anyone who is not white is what he was called out for and has apologized for. Whether an individual is offended is up to them but the fact is, as a word used to describe black, asian, latin etc. people it’s generally considered not acceptable.
“In America we use the term ‘people of colour’. Is that a million miles different than saying coloured?”
Actually, there is a huge semantic difference, and it’s upsetting that David doesn’t understand that. The bigger point is that “colored” is an outdated, archaic term, IN BOTH THE US AND UK, and the fact that it came out so easily for Benewaffle shows that he uses it in his everyday lexicon.
i’m from the uk and “coloured” is a millions miles away from “people of colour.” i’m old enough, just, to remember when when people openly used that term. nowadays the only way you’d hear it is from an elderly person. or a racist. it’s gross. and a totally strange word to use accidentally. it hasn’t been in common usage for decades.
Let’s hear it for “person of Ireland” replacing “Irish”
On another note, shouldn’t the title be David Oyelowo defends Benedict Cumberbatch not defends the comment? Because it sounds to me he defends the cause and BC as a person and a fellow actor, not whether it’s okay to use certain terms.
How gracious of David. I do not think Benedict is racist, however time and time again we are shown how disconnected, privileged, white upper-class Briton he is. His apology sounded sincere, however it was a huge oops and I think his Oscars chances are done.
It doesn’t help that he told the story of his mother worrying that once he became a celebrity, descendants of slaves would look to the family to make reparations for their part in the slave trade. He really should have kept that story to himself.
Oh, geez. That story is really hideous. Agreed, that’s definitely something NOT to be shared with the public.
I love Oyelowo’s comments and agree with him. Many people today (especially the people in the media) are on constant PC watch ready for the next person they can use to stir up racial conflict and boost ratings on their network or their news website. They really are interested more in soundbites and live for these sorts of slip ups to publicly vilify a person rather than focus on substance or evaluating the entire character of a person before jumping to conclusions. I don’t follow Cumberbatch nor have I seen him in anything other than 12 Years A Slave, but I don’t believe the guy is a racist. I can’t believe all the attacks I am seeing calling this guy a racist when he was discussing the need for diversity. I have heard blacks and whites use the term people of color. I don’t see much of a difference between that term and colored people, especially in the context in which he used the word. Would I have personally used that term? No. But the guy owned up to his error and seems genuinely pro-diversity in Hollywood. Can we move on? This is getting ridiculous.
Well, BC wouldn’t have used the term “African American” since he was specifically talking about UK actors. As a US citizen, I’m uncomfortable with his choice of words, but I’m also not familiar with the current accepted UK terminology. Hell, I’m not completely sure about current accepted US terminology. So, I’m asking honestly, what SHOULD he have said instead? As a wealthy, successful, European, white-/light-skinned man, what could he possibly have said that wouldn’t have blown up in his face? It’s a freaking minefield!
There are plenty of terms that whites who don’t live under rocks use every day. Non-white, POC, ethnic minorities are a few.
@Claire – I have seen “non-white” called out as problematic because it emphasizes white as the default. I can’t remember the specific objections to “ethnic”, but I have seen those as well. “POC” seems to be the generally accepted term at the moment, but I have also heard that some do not like that either, as it lumps all groups together.
Add in that different countries have different opinions on what’s acceptable and what’s not, and it’s easy to see how one can slip up.
I’d also like to know… How is it decided that one term is acceptable and another isn’t? Is it safe to assume that most POC prefer that term? Is it appropriate to ask a POC how they prefer to be referred to? How would you go about finding out without making it an issue?
I’m shocked that “non-white” is an acceptable term – it sounds horribly racist to me, like white is the preferred default, and everyone else is a “non”…
I don’t see why David should’ve come to Cumberbatch’ defense. He did a mistake and apologised eloquently, no need for the “back up” of the black friend. Why do we have to act like the conversation about using a wrong term should’ve been avoided? Dismissing it with “PC police” comments wrong. Having conversations is important to learn and improve.
I liked most of what David said about diversity in the industry except for the part about excellence as a weapon against prejudice; there is no logic in tht explanation.
You can be an excellent actor and still not be given chances.
You took the words right out of my mouth!
I was wondering the same Duckie.
Seemed to me TS and BC with their comments/replies to the situation was enough.
I see conversations other places (IMDB) where it has gotten to the point that even agreeing with that BC did not mean any harm and understood TS’s response is viewed as being against BC in some way, and people putting down those who see why some would have taken it offensive and discussing why as being stupid. As if an open mind is just not good enough.
UGH the BC nannies are his biggest problem…they’ll come at a person just for not worshiping him as they do.
“In America we use the term ‘people of colour’. Is that a million miles different than saying coloured?”
Yes.
That said, I wasn’t personally offended by Cumberbatch’s comment. He tends to put his foot in his mouth and I genuinely think he was well-intentioned. Other people were, and I won’t begrudge them that either though.
I wonder if someone told David to defend him? Can’t have anybody thinking anything less of the greatest thing that walked on this earth now can we. I mean Benedict is perfect….look even the apology is the most wonderful apology in the history of the world (sarcasm alert!)
I don’t think he’s racist but this has to much legs. And IMO saying coloured is bad. And seriously though I feel Benedict is one of those who will always be forgiven for anything, everyone else is wrong for not liking him and thinking he’s it. I’ve seen through his game since day 1.
I agree! I’m starting to see his game too.
The statements/apology that TS and BC put out was enough.
Why this overkill with a statement from David?
yeah not how media works.
his apology is what set it off actually
david was asked and defended him, but they also worked together and went to school together so its not like super surprising
Are you kidding? All this apologizing and defending is only giving the story MORE legs and making Benedict look worse imo. Just let it go already……at this point I worry he’ll get married just to make this story go away
Yeah I’m worrying that too
I don’t think he was sought out to defend him necessarily. He was asked about it on the red carpet at the premiere and said that he reached out to Benedict as his friend (and possibly to figure out what happened).
In reading the entirety of Cumby’s comment I wasn’t offended. And just when I was puzzling over the high dudgeon this antiquated term has aroused, this came into my in-box.
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/01/not-a-very-pc-thing-to-say.html
David O. reminds me of Sydney Poitier-so dignified and graceful, and focused on substance and excellence. Focus on what one wants to create more of in the world….
Yea, proper terms change every few years or decade, it seems. It’s making me just think I’ll continue to not be up to date, b/c I can’t keep track. I’ll just keep on liking people who present as good humans, no need for an identifier-lol
Oyelowo got across exactly what I’ve been trying to say in the last post.
What was up with the yahoo article saying “referred to black actors using the outmoded term ‘coloured’. Oyelowo was collared while at the UK premiere”?! Yea he was “collared”- he was at his movie premier! I don’t hear that term very often (if ever) and I didn’t find the play on words cute at all. Is it just me? I thought it was rude at best…..
I saw that too. F-ing gross isn’t it
His family were slave owners and he still used the family name despite his mother’s pleading not to. I think he is proud of his heritage.
I am not buying his apology, sorry.
Great actor though!
I don’t see what’s wrong with being proud of your name, or wanting to keep your name, despite what your ancestors did. His mother came off really badly with that mess.
I think he decided to go with Cumberbatch because its not easy to forget. Its funny to say. The only reason I always remembered him before giving Sherlock a chance was because hes name was so posh and funny.
I like your response. Its the only one that makes sense regarding his name.
It must be great to live in a world where forgiveness is not an option for a mistake made or for what ancestors were guilty of doing in the 18th century. We all know Benedict was alive in the 18th century. He is Dracula after all.
Ha!
I made a connection, David is good friends with Harvey Weinstein and his wife the Marchesa lady. What if Harvey got him to say this? And I wondered are Benedict and Mrs Weinstein the real couple, they were sitting together at the GGs and Harvey made a comment that she thinks Benedicts the hottest thing in the world (yuck! But she doesn’t exactly have taste does she) all these people are in the same circles right, Sophie Hunter and them.
Or am I just going way to far into fantasy land.
“yuck! But she doesn’t exactly have taste does she”
Have you seen her clothing? But not joking I think he’s attractive and I think hw was just hyping his talent. I don’t believe half the things these people say to reporters
Oh, have you seen the LA Times interview? I just threw up in my mouth and not a little either……
@GG i thought was it boring, same stuff we’ve been hearing, the way the gossip blogs were whining i expected something else. also, it’s 3 weeks old and kinda sloppy. some of it doesn’t make sense as written
The LA Times is pretty much what he said back in the WSJ around the same time.
That being said, I’m sure the post tomorrow will be amusing, with people acting like it’s new or something they haven’t already heard and freaked out over before.
I’d say you really can’t measure him until after the campaign is over, but it kind of is already; however, he’s not doing media right now.
The words offended, outraged controversy are so overused , Im black and this doesn’t apply to how I viewed BC gaffe or peoples reaction to it .it was simply a teaching moment to enlighten that the word is archaic and has negative connotations .
To BC credit he promptly and properly apologized and I actually find his approach more gracious than Davids unnecessary defense
Its very easy to reduce word choices to mere semantics when neither you are your family members ever r had to deal with water fountains, restrooms inns etc that said : coloured only or no coloureds allowed