Benedict Cumberbatch sorry for 'coloured' comment

[Emeye]

So how should he have worded his sentence to avoid offending anyone?

And is it true that actors who are not white have a hard time getting parts in the UK? Scratch that, that opens up a whole new can.

[TTwiggy]

Emeye said:

So how should he have worded his sentence to avoid offending anyone?

He should have said 'black'. In the same way he should have said 'black' for at least the last 20 years.

[anonymous-user]

Vee8man said:

el stovey said:

I thought the issue with the word 'colour' was that you're saying they (black people) are a different colour to the default which is white. e.g. nobody is saying a white person is coloured just people who are black.

Saying someone is white or black is fine but saying someone is coloured is like saying they are a different colour to the norm.

And they, describing themselves as 'people of colour' ? Is this wrong too ? Come on. Are you going to tell them ?
BC should be challenged over one thing though. Over why he really did apologise ? That would be interesting.

Benedict Cumberbatch is my motherfking caucasian

I don't really care whether people call themselves coloured or people of colour, perhaps the debate is different from country to country? Perhaps it depends who is using the word. I'm not offended or upset by any of it. It's not me complaining about Cumberbatch using the word, particularly when he's arguing in favour of his friends. I was just pointing out why in the UK anyway (I think) the term coloured is not encouraged.

[anonymous-user]

Fantic SuperT said:

It's as plain as the nose on my face that some people have evolved for a Northern European environment, and others have not.

RACIST!

You're saying all black people have funny noses.

What's next? slanty eyes for the Chinese?

[Emeye]

TTwiggy said:

Emeye said:

So how should he have worded his sentence to avoid offending anyone?

He should have said 'black'. In the same way he should have said 'black' for at least the last 20 years.

Does that include Chinese and Indian actors etc though, as I thought he was talking about all ethnic groups who were not white?

[Grumfutock]

What a load of bks of nothing! As usual the Ridiculously PC Brigade are up in arms over a complete non story.

[fido]

Emeye said:

I thought he was talking about all ethnic groups who were not white?

If so he could have just said ethnic minorities.

I think he meant specifically black people - remember when it comes to PC (and I jest) black people matter the most (ask Lenny)!

[Mr_B]

TTwiggy said:

Mr_B said:

Does anyone here actually think he is a vile racist, or just someone that said something a bit clumsy to a very faux overreaction by the likes of PH's permanently offended band of warriors of Zygalski and Fred Blogs ?

I believe that I have a bit of a reputation for lefty-pinko-liberalism, but I would concede that this does seem like a lot of fuss over nothing to me.

That said, I am however surprised that someone of Cumberbatch's age and intelligence wasn't aware that 'coloured' is a very outdated term that should no longer be used.

The insatiable demand these days for a groveling apology and expectation that people must almost cower as they do is is truly pathetic, something which was exampled a few weeks back when a scientist was almost in tears during his silly apology for wearing a stylised shirt which featured some women on it.
Say sorry, admit it's outdated and clumsy, but those intent on making more to this than is really there are just as bad as any real racist and do more damage than good.

[Sway]

FredClogs said:

The History

The History



So where does that leave us Mr Chips?

[Guybrush]

Next, the PC fools will be calling people who eat too much sugary stuff 'people of size'...

[zygalski]

Fartomatic5000 said:

I don't watch TV as it happens. I did, however, ask a question. You seem to have missed that. Your post is a prime example of the result of an inability to read and comprehend.

So now I'm meant to believe you can't search google for Civil Rights Movement?
Honestly, if you cared about it you'd know.

[McClure]

Guybrush said:

Next, the PC fools will be calling people who eat too much sugary stuff 'people of size'...

Did you miss the news from a couple of weeks ago? They have a disability!

[TTwiggy]

Mr_B said:

TTwiggy said:

Mr_B said:

Does anyone here actually think he is a vile racist, or just someone that said something a bit clumsy to a very faux overreaction by the likes of PH's permanently offended band of warriors of Zygalski and Fred Blogs ?

I believe that I have a bit of a reputation for lefty-pinko-liberalism, but I would concede that this does seem like a lot of fuss over nothing to me.

That said, I am however surprised that someone of Cumberbatch's age and intelligence wasn't aware that 'coloured' is a very outdated term that should no longer be used.

The insatiable demand these days for a groveling apology and expectation that people must almost cower as they do is is truly pathetic, something which was exampled a few weeks back when a scientist was almost in tears during his silly apology for wearing a stylised shirt which featured some women on it.
Say sorry, admit it's outdated and clumsy, but those intent on making more to this than is really there are just as bad as any real racist and do more damage than good.

I don't know who it was that demanded such a lengthy apology - do you? Is it not possible that his 'people' got together and came up with something far too long-winded on his behalf, simply to justify their positions as 'PR handlers'?

[bob-in-toon]

I bet most of the people "offended" aren't even of the background to which he was referring to.

[anonymous-user]

Why is everyone up in arms about "PC fools" and "hand wringing lefties"? There hasn't been many complaints or a national outcry at the comment Cumberbatch made. No media witch hunt or Facebook campaign to have him banned from whatever.

All the BBC article pointed to was a comment from an anti racism charity saying the term was outdated.

[Asterix]

McClure said:

Guybrush said:

Next, the PC fools will be calling people who eat too much sugary stuff 'people of size'...

Did you miss the news from a couple of weeks ago? They have a disability!

"People of Immense Girth" or PIG for short.

[anonymous-user]

bob-in-toon said:

I bet most of the people "offended" aren't even of the background to which he was referring to.

Where are all these offended people?

[Mr GrimNasty]

Guybrush said:

Next, the PC fools will be calling people who eat too much sugary stuff 'people of size'...

How dare you. We are hyper-skeletally challenged or have an adipose tissue retentive disorder.

[FredClogs]

Sway said:

FredClogs said:

The History

The History



So where does that leave us Mr Chips?

On an "AMERICAN" talk show?

Black is fine, Irish is fine, Dog is fine (if correctly applied) Colored is not - if on an American talk show and talking about black people - I mean really it's not rocket science.

[Emeye]

fido said:

Emeye said:

I thought he was talking about all ethnic groups who were not white?

If so he could have just said ethnic minorities.

I think he meant specifically black people - remember when it comes to PC (and I jest) black people matter the most (ask Lenny)!

So, opening that can I wasn't going to, a minority is not going to get offers of as many acting jobs in a society where the majority of parts available will be written for characters that represent the majority of the population, especially if the show is truly representative of that society.

So apart from offending the professionally offended, should he not be taken to task for simply talking bks? The whole premise of being in a minority is there are less of you, yet it seems, observing as an outsider, that UK film/TV/media companies appear to be some of the most politically correct places around.

How do "white" actors get on in Bollywood?