David Oyelowo calls the reaction to Benedict Cumberbatch’s ‘coloured’ slip “ridiculous”

“When you look at what he was actually saying it’s clear that he’s a huge supporter of black performers,” David Oyelowo told BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat. “To attack him for a term, as opposed to what he was actually saying, I think is very disingenuous and is indicative of the age we live in where people are looking for sound bites as opposed to substance...I reached out to him in support and said I think it’s ridiculous."



“[Cumberbatch is] a brilliant actor, he gives a brilliant performance in The Imitation Game and, like I say, it’s just a diversion from what we should be talking about, which is that astounding performance.”



“In America we use the term ‘people of colour’,” he concludes. “Is that a million miles different than saying coloured? I know it’s an outdated term but… he was clearly doing something that I think was pretty beautiful.”



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