Acclaimed actor, Benedict Cumberbatch, has shared his thoughts regarding his controversial portrayal of the nonbinary character ‘All’ in “Zoolander 2,” calling the experience a “lesson learned.” The character was met with significant criticism upon the film’s release in 2016, with many accusing the film of mocking nonbinary and transgender individuals. Critics pointed out that the character was overly stereotyped and played for laughs, which was offensive and dismissive of nonbinary identities.
In a recent interview, Cumberbatch expressed remorse about the controversy surrounding his role and admitted that it was not well-conceived. He stressed that the intention was never to cause any harm or offence but recognized the validity of the criticisms. He said the experience had taught him to approach such delicate matters with more sensitivity in the future, highlighting that a wider conversation on representation and visibility of LGBTQ+ characters is necessary. The actor’s reflections underscore the importance of authentic and respectful representations of diverse identities in the media.
