"I make no excuse for being an idiot”—When Benedict Cumberbatch apologized for his controversial remark

Benedict Cumberbatch, a name synonymous with acting finesse, found himself in troubled waters in the year 2015. In January 2015, Cumberbatch sparked controversy after using the term "colored" to describe Black actors during an interview on the PBS show Tavis Smiley.

His choice of words drew immediate criticism. Show Racism the Red Card, an anti-racism charity, stated that the term was "outdated" and had the "potential to cause offence due to its historical usage". Online backlash quickly followed, with many lamenting the outdated terminology, though some praised his intent to highlight racial inequality.

Cumberbatch issued a heartfelt apology, calling his remark "thoughtless." He admitted:

“I’m devastated to have caused offense by using this outmoded terminology. I offer my sincere apologies. I make no excuse for my being an idiot and know the damage is done”.

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Benedict Cumberbatch threw light upon lack of diversity in British acting

While discussing the lack of diversity in British acting, he highlighted the challenges colored actors face in the UK. Cumberbatch suggested they have fewer opportunities compared to the US. Furthermore, he believes this imbalance needs to change as many of his friends found better opportunities in the US.

He said:

“I think as far as coloured actors go, it gets really different in the UK. A lot of my friends have had more opportunities [in the US] than in the UK, and that’s something that needs to change”.

Additionally, he emphasized the irony, noting that he had been advocating for better opportunities for Black actors when he used the term.

He added:

“The most shaming aspect of this for me is that I was talking about racial inequality in the performing arts.”

Notably, this incident led to wider discussions about racial inequality in the entertainment industry. Moreover, it also reminded public figures of the importance of using accurate and respectful language when addressing sensitive issues.

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Benedict Cumberbatch once faced backlash for his controversial role

In 2016, Benedict Cumberbatch faced backlash for his role in Zoolander 2. He portrayed All, a nonbinary fashion model. The film used the character as the butt of gender-related jokes. While portraying the character, some dialogues were problematic.

Some lines questioned if All had “a hot dog or a bun.” Critics and LGBTQ activists found this portrayal offensive. They accused the film of perpetuating transphobia and reinforcing harmful stereotypes.

Furthermore, activists lambasted the movie with an online petition. The petition called Benedict Cumberbatch’s character “a cartoonish mockery of trans/nonbinary individuals” and compared it to the “modern equivalent of using blackface.” It argued the film should have cast a nonbinary actor to represent the role authentically.

Cumberbatch later addressed the criticism. In a 2022 interview, he admitted the role "backfired a little bit." He reflected:

“I think in this era, my role would never be performed by anybody other than a trans actor”.

He acknowledged that, at the time, he didn’t fully understand the implications of the portrayal. Despite its satirical intent, Zoolander 2 faced significant public backlash. LGBTQ advocates criticized its harmful depiction of the queer community and called for more sensitive and inclusive representation in media.