British actor Benedict Cumberbatch arrives for at the Royal Festival Hall in London, on May 27, 2012. The Toronto International Film Festival opens in September and Bill Condon's 'The Fifth Estate,' starring Benedict Cumberbatch as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will kick off the 38th edition of the festival. (AFP/File)
Benedict Cumberbatch says he was an “idiot” to refer to non-white actors as “colored.”
The Academy Award-nominated actor used the word on PBS talk show “Tavis Smiley” last week while discussing diversity in the entertainment industry. 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.”
British anti-racism charity Show Racism the Red Card said it welcomed Cumberbatch’s comments on diversity but felt the term he used was “outdated.”
"I’m devastated to have caused offence by using this outmoded terminology," Cumberbatch said in a statement Monday. "I offer my sincere apologies. I make no excuse for my being an idiot and know the damage is done.”
Click here for more on this report from the New York Post.
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