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'I'm an idiot and I'm devastated to have caused offense': British actor Benedict
Cumberbatch issues apology after calling black people 'colored' on Tavis Smiley
By Sophie Jane Evans For Dailymail.com 19:31 26 Jan 2015, updated 00:41 27 Jan 2
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Benedict Cumberbatch called black people 'colored' on show Tavis Smiley
He was hitting out at lack of opportunities for black British actors in UK
His use of 'outmoded' racial terminology sparked outrage among viewers
38-year-old Oscar nominee said: 'I'm devastated to have caused offense'
British actor Benedict Cumberbatch has apologized after describing black people
as 'colored' on US television, saying he is 'an idiot' and is 'devastated to hav
e caused offense'.
The 38-year-old Sherlock star was widely condemned after using the racial term d
uring a debate on the lack of diversity on British screens on the PBS talk show
Tavis Smiley last Wednesday.
But on Monday night, he issued an apology for his 'incorrect' and 'offensive' us
e of the phrase, saying: 'I'm devastated to have caused offense by using this ou
tmoded terminology.
'I offer my sincere apologies. I make no excuse for my being an idiot and know t

he damage is done.'
Benedict Cumberbatch refers to black actors as 'colored'
Actor: Benedict Cumberbatch has apologized after describing black people as 'col
ored' on PBS's Tavis Smiley, saying he is 'an idiot' and is 'devastated to have
caused offense'. Above, the actor during his TV interview
+15
Actor: Benedict Cumberbatch has apologized after describing black people as 'col
ored' on PBS's Tavis Smiley, saying he is 'an idiot' and is 'devastated to have
caused offense'. Above, the actor during his TV interview
Criticism: Following Cumberbatch's appearance on the talk show, hundreds of peop
le took to social media to condemn the actor for his choice of terminology, with
many deeming it 'racist' and 'inappropriate'
+15
Criticism: Following Cumberbatch's appearance on the talk show, hundreds of peop
le took to social media to condemn the actor for his choice of terminology, with
many deeming it 'racist' and 'inappropriate'
'Outmoded': A Twitter user called Ashley questioned the actor's use of 'colored'
. 'Benedict Cumberbatch used the word "coloured" to describe black people in the
year 2015, um, are we still using that word?' she wrote
+15
'Outmoded': A Twitter user called Ashley questioned the actor's use of 'colored'
. 'Benedict Cumberbatch used the word "coloured" to describe black people in the
year 2015, um, are we still using that word?' she wrote
US role: Cumberbatch, who is nominated for an Oscar, starred alongside Chiwetel
Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
+15
US role: Cumberbatch, who is nominated for an Oscar, starred alongside Chiwetel
Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave
Cumberbatch, nominated for an Oscar for The Imitation Game, added: 'I can only h
ope this incident will highlight the need for correct usage of terminology that
is accurate and inoffensive.
'The most shaming aspect of this for me is that I was talking about racial inequ
ality in the performing arts in the UK and the need for rapid improvements in ou
r industry when I used the term.
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'I feel the complete fool I am and while I am sorry to have offended people and
to learn from my mistakes in such a public manner please be assured I have.
'I apologize again to anyone who I offended for this thoughtless use of inapprop
riate language about an issue which affects friends of mine and which I care abo
ut deeply.'
'I AM DEVASTATED': BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH'S FULL APOLOGY
'I'm devastated to have caused offence by using this outmoded terminology. I off
er my sincere apologies.
'I make no excuse for my being an idiot and know the damage is done. I can only
hope this incident will highlight the need for correct usage of terminology tha

t is accurate and inoffensive.

'The most shaming aspect of this for me is that I was talking about racial inequ
ality in the performing arts in the UK and the need for rapid improvements in ou
r industry when I used the term.
'I feel the complete fool I am and while I am sorry to have offended people and
to learn from my mistakes in such a public manner please be assured I have.
'I apologize again to anyone who I offended for this thoughtless use of inappro
priate language about an issue which affects friends of mine and which I care ab
out deeply.'
During his appearance on Tavis Smiley, Cumberbatch hit out at the lack of opport
unities for black UK actors, saying they have a far better chance of success in
Hollywood than Britain.
He told host Smiley that stars such as Idris Elba and David Oyelowo thrive in Am
erica more than in their home country- and pointed to films like Selma and 12 Ye
ars A Slave,
'It's an even playing field. [These actors] paid their dues for years by just do
ing beautiful performances,' he said.
'I think as far as coloured actors go it gets really difficult in the UK.'
He continued: 'A lot of my friends have had more opportunities here (in the US)
than in the UK and that's something that needs to change.'
Following Cumberbatch's interview, hundreds of people took to social media to co
ndemn the actor for his choice of terminology, with many deeming it 'racist' and
'inappropriate'.
Twitter user Shane Thomas said: 'While I'm on board with Cumberbatch's points he
re, it really doesn't help when he uses a term like "coloured"'.
Meanwhile, a woman called Ashley tweeted: 'Benedict Cumberbatch used the word "c
oloured" to describe black people in the year 2015, um, are we still using that
word?'
And Chelsea Nicole said: 'I never liked Cumberbatch and him calling people "colo
red" seals the deal.'
Controversial interview: On Monday night, Cumberbatch (pictured with Smiley on t
he show) issued an apology for his 'incorrect' and 'offensive' use of terminolog
y, saying: 'I make no excuse for my being an idiot'
+15
Controversial interview: On Monday night, Cumberbatch (pictured with Smiley on t
he show) issued an apology for his 'incorrect' and 'offensive' use of terminolog
y, saying: 'I make no excuse for my being an idiot'
Not a fan: Chelsea Nicole tweeted: 'I never liked Cumberbatch and him calling pe
ople "colored" seals the deal'
+15
Not a fan: Chelsea Nicole tweeted: 'I never liked Cumberbatch and him calling pe
ople "colored" seals the deal'
Expressing her opinion: A woman named Marquetta, from an unspecified part of the
US, wrote: 'Someone needs to tell Cumberbatch that the term 'colored' isn't use
d or accepted in these parts'
+15
Expressing her opinion: A woman named Marquetta, from an unspecified part of the
US, wrote: 'Someone needs to tell Cumberbatch that the term 'colored' isn't use

d or accepted in these parts'

'A point undermined': ITV News broadcaster Charlene White posted
itter: 'Benedict Cumberbatch on lack of opps for black actors in
undermined by him calling them 'coloured'...'
+15
'A point undermined': ITV News broadcaster Charlene White posted
itter: 'Benedict Cumberbatch on lack of opps for black actors in
undermined by him calling them 'coloured'...'

her views on Tw
UK. For me tho,
her views on Tw
UK. For me tho,

ITV News broadcaster Charlene White also drew attention to Cumberbatch's intervi
ew on Twitter.
She posted: 'Benedict Cumberbatch on lack of opps for black actors in UK. For me
tho, undermined by him calling them 'coloured'...'
In a statement, British anti-racism educational charity Show Racism the Red Card
said the term 'colored' is now outdated and has the potential to cause offence.
It said: 'Benedict Cumberbatch has highlighted a very important issue within the
entertainment industry and within society.
Couple: Cumberbatch (seen with his fiance, Sophie Hunter) described himself as fe
eling 'the complete fool'
+15
Couple: Cumberbatch (seen with his fiance, Sophie Hunter) described himself as fe
eling 'the complete fool'
umberbatch hit out at the lack of opportunities for black UK actors, saying they
have a far better chance of success in Hollywood than Britain. He used actors I
dris Elba (left) and David Oyelowo (right) as examples
+15
umberbatch hit out at the lack of opportunities for black UK actors, saying they
have a far better chance of success in Hollywood than Britain. He used actors I
dris Elba (left) and David Oyelowo (right) as examples
umberbatch hit out at the lack of opportunities for black UK actors, saying they
have a far better chance of success in Hollywood than Britain. He used actors I
dris Elba (left) and David Oyelowo (right) as examples
+15
umberbatch hit out at the lack of opportunities for black UK actors, saying they
have a far better chance of success in Hollywood than Britain. He used actors I
dris Elba (left) and David Oyelowo (right) as examples
'The lack of representation of people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds
within certain industries in the UK is an issue which needs addressing.
'We are pleased that Benedict has spoken out in support of more appropriate repr
esentation and of the views of actors and campaigners like Lenny Henry.
'In doing so, he has also inadvertently highlighted the issue of appropriate ter
minology and the evolution of language.
'Show Racism the Red Card feel that the term 'coloured' is now outdated and has
the potential to cause offence due to the connotations associated with the term
and its historical usage.
Star: In a statement, UK anti-racism educational charity Show Racism the Red Car
d said the term 'colored' is now outdated and has the potential to cause offence
. Above, Cumberbatch in a promotional shot for Sherlock
+15
Star: In a statement, UK anti-racism educational charity Show Racism the Red Car
d said the term 'colored' is now outdated and has the potential to cause offence
. Above, Cumberbatch in a promotional shot for Sherlock
David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King in exclusive Selma clip

'Appropriate terminology differs from country to country; for example, we know t

hat in some countries the term 'coloured' is still widely used, and that in the
US the term 'people of colour' is quite common.
'During our work with young people in schools throughout England, we discuss app
ropriate language to use when describing people of different skin colours and ba
ckgrounds and explain why the term 'colored' is no longer the best way to descri
be someone.'
Black British actors are currently storming Tinseltown.
Oyelowo, who moved to Los Angeles seven years ago in a bid to find more work, pl
ays Martin Luther King Jr in Selma
which stars another Brit, Carmen Ejogo, as Ki
ng s wife Coretta Scott King.

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