[AnneBoleyn]

British actor Benedict Cumberbatch has apologized after describing black people as 'colored' on US television, saying he is 'an idiot' and is 'devastated to have caused offense'.


The 38-year-old Sherlock star used the racial term during a debate on the lack of diversity on British screens on the talk show Tavis Smiley last Wednesday.

After the interview, hundreds took to social media to condemn the actor for his choice of terminology, with many branding it 'racist' and 'inappropriate'.

Last night, Cumberbatch responded by issuing an apology for his 'incorrect' and 'offensive' use of the phrase.

He said: '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.'

'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 apologize 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.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...elevision.html

[Reader]

Disappointed in you, Benedict.

I guess it was a mistake or whatever, but who uses the term in 2015....?

[Reza]

my mom still says colored and oriental she actually thinks shes being polite.

but why is he SOOO devastated? he should have just said. i made a mistake and moved on. we didnt need an essay. its not like he killed someone

[Goosey]

Originally posted by Reza

my mom still says colored and oriental

I still say these but hey I didn't know there was anything wrong with "coloured". It seems more polite than "black".

[LostInStereo100]

What's wrong with saying oriental?

[TheRoofInhabitant]

Why is "person of colour" accepted but "coloured" isn't? Genuinely asking.

[Callum]

He didn't mean any offence. 'Coloured' is still fairly commonly used among his generation here in the UK who think that word is still the politically correct term to use over just 'Black'.

[Reza]

Originally posted by Goosey

I still say these but hey I didn't know there was anything wrong with "coloured". It seems more polite than "black".

exactly. people who say colored think they are being polite. unless they understand that it was a term used for segregation they will continue to say it. all you can do is just tell them to say black and move on. people shouldnt be offended especially if the person apologizes.

[Goosey]

Originally posted by TheRoofInhabitant

Why is "person of colour" accepted but "coloured" isn't? Genuinely asking.

good point

Originally posted by LostInStereo100

What's wrong with saying oriental?

Nothing, it means "Eastern"

Originally posted by Reza

all you can do is just tell them to say black and move on

I find it strange saying "black" though because few people are that dark. A lot of people here say "brown" and others say "coloured". I'm not in America so we use different terminology and history.

[Jimmy.]

He had absolutely nothing to apologise for.

[BudBud]

Coloured sounds more politically correct than black

[Reader]

Originally posted by Callum

He didn't mean any offence. 'Coloured' is still fairly commonly used among his generation here in the UK who think that word is still the politically correct term to use over just 'Black'.

This is true. Older people in the UK tend to use the term 'coloured'. That was politically correct in their days and they didn't get the memo. 'Black' was very offensive back then.

This is giving me sheltered posh boy teas for Benedict.

[Rihinvention]

Originally posted by Reza

my mom still says colored and oriental she actually thinks shes being polite.

When Oprah arrived in Australia, it was on the nightly news and my dad turned to my mum and said "Hasn't Oprah done well for a negress?"

[Almighty Gaga]

This is offensive?
Everything is offensive these days.

[Dragonfly]

"Coloured" is not accepted? I really didn't know
We use that term in my English Literature course at uni

[Reza]

Originally posted by LostInStereo100

What's wrong with saying oriental?

oriental isnt an actual race or nationality, its basically like calling an asian an eastern exotic person. The term was created for asians when asia and the surrounding places were thought of as mysterious and barbaric.

[Goosey]

Originally posted by Reza

oriental isnt an actual race or nationality, its basically like calling an asian an eastern exotic person. The term was created for asians when asia and the surrounding places were thought of as mysterious and barbaric.

But we call people from America and European countries "Western"

And also people living in Asia, to Westerners, are by definition "exotic"

exotic = "originating in or characteristic of a distant foreign country"

So I guess a Chinese living in San Francisco isn't an "Oriental" if he was born in the US

[c0caine]

This is getting out of hand, like, really? An apologize for this?

[Reza]

Originally posted by Goosey

But we call people from America and European countries "Western"

And also people living in Asia, to Westerners, are by definition "exotic"

exotic = "originating in or characteristic of a distant foreign country"

So I guess a Chinese living in San Francisco isn't an "Oriental" if he was born in the US

that may be true but back then oriental was a reference to anyone with slanted eyes They made no distinction between american asians and the ones from the east.

[BudBud]

Originally posted by Almighty Gaga

This is offensive?
Everything is offensive these days.

in this day and age we have to apologize for everything it seems like - well he didnt have to and at least he did i guess - some people who have said worse give half apologies .

Originally posted by Dragonfly

"Coloured" is not accepted? I really didn't know
We use that term in my English Literature course at uni

my uni too , i rather write colored than black (history course)