Benedict Cumberbatch sorry for 'coloured' comment
Discussion
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/30994775
Benedict Cumberbatch says he's "devastated to have caused offence" after referring to black actors as "coloured" on a US talk show.
He was talking about diversity in British acting when he said it.
Anti-racism charity Show Racism the Red Card says the term is "outdated" and can cause offence.
The Sherlock actor has since apologised and says he makes no excuse for "being an idiot".
Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes
The Oscar-nominated actor was telling American television presenter Tavis Smiley that he believes Hollywood offers more opportunities for black actors than the UK does.
He said: "I think as far as coloured actors go it gets really difficult in the UK, and 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."
His comments were quickly criticised online and charity Show Racism the Red Card said that he had "highlighted the issue of appropriate terminology".
They said: "The term 'coloured' is now outdated and has the potential to cause offence due to the connotations associated with the term and its historical usage."
In a statement the 38-year-old said: "I can only hope 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 inequality in the performing arts in the UK and the need for rapid improvements in our 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 apologise again to anyone who I offended for this thoughtless use of inappropriate language about an issue which affects friends of mine and which I care about deeply."
Is there anything that doesn't offend someone now?
I guess if someone referred to white people as pale it wouldn't gain this sort of attention.
Benedict Cumberbatch says he's "devastated to have caused offence" after referring to black actors as "coloured" on a US talk show.
He was talking about diversity in British acting when he said it.
Anti-racism charity Show Racism the Red Card says the term is "outdated" and can cause offence.
The Sherlock actor has since apologised and says he makes no excuse for "being an idiot".
Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes
The Oscar-nominated actor was telling American television presenter Tavis Smiley that he believes Hollywood offers more opportunities for black actors than the UK does.
He said: "I think as far as coloured actors go it gets really difficult in the UK, and 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."
His comments were quickly criticised online and charity Show Racism the Red Card said that he had "highlighted the issue of appropriate terminology".
They said: "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."
In a statement the 38-year-old said: "I can only hope 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 inequality in the performing arts in the UK and the need for rapid improvements in our 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 apologise again to anyone who I offended for this thoughtless use of inappropriate language about an issue which affects friends of mine and which I care about deeply."
Is there anything that doesn't offend someone now?
I guess if someone referred to white people as pale it wouldn't gain this sort of attention.
I don't get these people who find any little reason to be offended. His apology was extremely long, and unnecessary. He didn't set out to offend anyone, quite the opposite. It's sad that he was making a decent point, and all people took away from it
What is the world coming to? Unfortunately it's people of my generation who perpetrate this "professionally offended" business.
Presumably you've all heard that Thrift Shop song? Well the word Honkey appears, but that seemed to be ok!
What is the world coming to? Unfortunately it's people of my generation who perpetrate this "professionally offended" business.
Presumably you've all heard that Thrift Shop song? Well the word Honkey appears, but that seemed to be ok!
I thought the term 'coloured' was not the most PC term to use, but then I recently read about this organisation in the states... http://www.naacp.org/
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Hashtag confused.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Hashtag confused.
ReallyReallyGood said:
I thought the term 'coloured' was not the most PC term to use, but then I recently read about this organisation in the states... http://www.naacp.org/
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Hashtag confused.
A very old and highly respected institution, iirc. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Hashtag confused.
Fartomatic5000 said:
Anyone know the history of the word? I thought it started being used because some found "black" offensive. Hard to keep up with the serially offended PC crowd.
That's not the history I remember.The term "coloured" was specifically set out in South African legislation to differentiate between "true black" and "true whites". It usually referred to -
mixed race (black and white parentage or ancestry)
Asian
Once you have separate legislation in place, you must then take into account people who don't fit fully into the separate categories you have devised. Therefore you have to start making arbitrary distinctions between different categories of humans.
It's all a nonsense, of course.
We had one if these organisations come to work to tell us what terminology was correct and what wasn't very funny when she was telling us what terminology to use when referring to gay people. Puff is not acceptable. Actually (says our lesbian colleague) that's perfectly fine we don't mind it! Erm...
Who funds these organisations there are hundreds of them telling us what's right and wrong in their minds!
Of and what should we call people now just so I don't make the same mistake?
Who funds these organisations there are hundreds of them telling us what's right and wrong in their minds!
Of and what should we call people now just so I don't make the same mistake?
Derek Smith said:
It would appear that taking offence at nomenclature is more important in the great scheme of things than anti racism.
Loudly taking offence turns the focus onto the 'offended' party. It is a shame there is no good use for attention seeking retards with time on their hands, God knows there is no shortage of them!ETA- I know, I know. It's like goldy and bronzy but...
I understood 'colored' to be the accepted term, after all lefty fools don't even like the use of the term 'blackboard' and have imposed 'chalkboard'. I've also heard Americans use the term 'people of color' to describe (presumably) black-skinned folk, but maybe they mean any colour other than white.(?)
Guybrush said:
I understood 'colored' to be the accepted term, after all lefty fools don't even like the use of the term 'blackboard' and have imposed 'chalkboard'. I've also heard Americans use the term 'people of color' to describe (presumably) black-skinned folk, but maybe they mean any colour other than white.(?)
"People of colour" is acceptable and a plural term, identifying someone as "coloured" is not, spelling colour "color" is never acceptable.FredClogs said:
"People of colour" is acceptable and a plural term, identifying someone as "coloured" is not, spelling colour "color" is never acceptable.
Sorry, but that is bonkers, Machiavellian. If you are talking about mixed races - Asian, African, Afro Caribbean etc. - then surely "coloured" is grammatically and therefore factually, rationally correct.I understand that we now live in a world where, for sensible reasons, no one's dog is named after Wing.Co Guy Gibson's, but I do think there is too much made of specific wording, rather than intent.
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