Benedict Cumberbatch apologizes for calling Black Actors ‘Coloured’

Benedict Cumberbatch used the word “coloured” to indicate the minorities while talking about representation in the UK movies.

Benedict Cumberbatch is in the news now more than ever as the actor has been nominated for every award show this season including his Emmy nomination last year. It can be safe to say that it is indeed the age of Cumberbatch. While he waits for the results to be revealed. He revels in the media attention with a child on his way.

He has been receiving a lot of attention which includes total media scrutiny and it is a chance to get his voice through to the masses. He appeared on PBS talk show Tavis Smiley where he expressed his views about the opportunities for minorities in the UK film industry. He said that ‘coloured’ people don’t get enough chances in the UK movies. There are more opportunity for such actors in Hollywood and he really wants these coloured actors to get more chances in the British film industry.

He said that the actors were well represented in the US and he hopes that the UK industry takes inspiration from their correspondents across the ocean. While the spirit that he was trying to convey was honest and true, Benedict did face some scrutiny regarding the terms he had used.

Show Racism The Red Card, the leading British Charity for racism pointed out that while his sentiment was valuable and noble, Cumberbatch had used a term to define minorities with the word ‘coloured’ which is quite old when it comes to terminology. They have come a long way with language evolving and using the word calls back to the unawareness of the individual regarding the racism issues. They have worked hard to teach the children across UK to embrace the new terminology and make it an essential part of their communiqué. At this time, when you are a role model for so many, people expect you to be modern and far reaching. 

Cumberbatch realized his mistake and apologized for using the term. Humble as always, he recognized the importance of what was being pointed out and was mature enough to apologize for it instead of defending himself by saying he did not realize that he was hurting the sentiments of people.