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Tag: Tavis Smiley

  • Benedict Cumberbatch Apologizes for Calling Black Actors ‘Colored’

    Benedict Cumberbatch would have a really hard time making anyone hate him. Now, Benedict Cumberbatch’s rabid fans, that’s another story — some call them Cumberbitches. But Mr. Sherlock himself is pretty much universally loved.

    So how did Benedict Cumberbatch end up pissing off people of color recently?

    Oddly enough, the whole thing happened when Benedict Cumberbatch was actually bemoaning what he saw as a bad situation in his home country vis a vis actors of color getting work. He spoke with Tavis Smiley about it.

    Benedict Cumberbatch told Smiley: “I think as far as colored actors go, it gets really difficult in the UK, and I think a lot of my friends have had more opportunities here [in the U.S.] than in the UK, and that’s something that needs to change.”

    And it was that “colored actors” line that started the blowback, which is 50 shades of ironic.

    Tavis Smiley ran to Benedict Cumberbatch’s defense.

    “Those who saw Benedict Cumberbatch on @PBS, know he feels persons of color are underrepresented in #Hollywood.” – Tavis Smiley

    Others back Smiley up.

    And what Benedict Cumberbatch had to say, in context, certainly does not sound racist.

    “Something’s gone wrong — we’re not being representative enough in our culture of different races, and that really does need to step up a pace,” Cumberbatch said. “It’s clear when you see certain migratory patterns that there are more opportunities here than there are in the UK.”

    Nonetheless, Benedict Cumberbatch heard the outcry and responded like a gentleman. He did not plead ignorance based on being from a different country and culture, as some might have. He manned up and delivered an apology that could never be described as cursory. He nearly groveled.

    “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 U.K. 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.”

  • Annie Lennox Hurt By “Strange Fruit” Criticism

    Annie Lennox came under fire last fall after appearing on Tavis Smiley.

    The thing she was slammed for was not something she said, but something she didn’t say.

    Annie Lennox was harrassed on many a blog and tweet for “whitewashing” and simplifying the meaning of her cover song, “Strange Fruit”. The song was originally sung by Billie Holiday in the 1930’s and was a song against lynching of African-Americans.

    In the Tavis Smiley interview last fall, Annie Lennox made reference to the song’s meaning as a song against general violence and bigotry. That’s it.

    On Monday night at the Television Critics Association meeting to promote her PBS Great Performances: Annie Lennox “Nostalgia” in Concert special, Annie Lennox had her chance to explain just what happened.

    “I was talking to Tavis. We were having a conversation, and I was very engaged with him,” Annie Lennox told reporters. “And I guess I was thinking at the time, he knows what I’m talking about. I wasn’t thinking about the other picture. I was thinking more about the undercurrent of violence that is inherent in the entire human race.”

    She added, “So I didn’t refer to the lynchings in our interview because I already assumed, obviously, that Tavis, being an incredibly intelligent and knowledgeable man, especially of African origin, would know what I was talking about. And then somebody took issue with that, and the whole thing exploded, and it was so painful for me.”

    Annie Lennox later admitted, “It was so painful — I can’t even begin to tell you — because I’m the last person that would disrespect that history. And then, one person put on a nasty blog this, and the whole thing blew out of context, and I couldn’t come back [to Tavis’ show], because if I did that, it would all get blown up again, so I had to just be quiet, and this is a phenomena of our times that we live in with Twitter and social media and everybody commenting is that it’s very tricky.”

    Yes, it is tricky. With the way things are now, you can’t get away with anything! What do you think? Should Annie Lennox have been chastised for her comments on the origin of “Strange Fruit”?

    Or do you think she just got caught up in the interview and the importance of the details slipped her mind?

  • ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 19 Premiere

    ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 19 Premiere

    Dancing With the Stars premieres its 19th season on Monday evening, and the cast members are reportedly ready–and very excited–about their first forays across the dance floor.

    Thirteen ‘stars’ will compete for that coveted mirrorball trophy throughout season 19. This season’s contestants include Jonathan Bennett, Tommy Chong, Randy Couture, Betsey Johnson, Lolo Jones, Bethany Mota, Janel Parrish, Alfonso Ribeiro, Sadie Robertson, Antonio Sabato, Jr., Tavis Smiley, Lea Thompson, and Michael Waltrip. Of course each of these contestants is paired with a dance professional. This season’s pros include Mark Ballas, Cheryl Burke, Sharna Burgess, Witney Carson, Artem Chigvintsev, Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Tony Dovolani, Allison Holker, Derek Hough, Keo Motsepe, Peta Murgatroyd, Emma Slater, and Karina Smirnoff.

    Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba return to the Dancing With the Stars judges’ desk. They are also joined this season by two-time mirrorball trophy winner and film star Julianne Hough–whose brother Derek is one of the pro dancers.

    USA Today reports that some of these ‘stars‘ are amateurs at best, and that it really is quite a stretch to call them stars. Since the show is called Dancing With the Stars, however, the producers had to do what they could to come up with contestants who could somewhat fit that criteria.

    Duck Dynasty star Korie Robertson is already soliciting votes for daughter Sadie Robertson.

    Will you be tuning in to the season 19 premiere of Dancing With the Stars on Monday evening, September 15th, at 8PM? Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC.

    Which of the ‘stars’ might you be rooting for during season 19?