Benedict Cumberbatch

Sweep

Sweep

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I have just read an article on Sky News about Benedict Cumberbatch using his curtain call each night when playing Hamlet at the Barbican, to make a speech about the refugee crisis. Seemingly this includes an appeal for donations which has raised £150,000. He now says he wants to meet with the Home Secretary to discuss the crisis.
My post is not really about the political aspect of this particular issue, but more about why we should care what celebrities think and more importantly, why they think we should care what they think. In my view, if I have shelled out a fair sum to see Hamlet, then the only person I want to hear from is the Bard and I really don't want to be treated to the cast's opinion on current affairs. I do get the fund raising thing, but quite honestly I am just as interested in the tea lady's opinion as the big star of the show and quite frankly I would have paid to see him act, not listen to him lecture.
And why does he think he has more right to meet the Home Secretary than the rest of us?
I am thinking that fame has gone a little too much to his head.
 
Or he is using he status for a good cause and trying to raise money for a good cause

Not sure how what he is doing means "fame has gone to his head"

It seems clear that he is doing a good thing and really can't see how he can be critisized for it
 
He believes he's in a position where he can have some influence for good, so fair play to him!

Not a lot of difference to Sir Bob Geldof carrying on after Live Aid, or Sir Elton John trying to influence Putin imo.

Politicians like to be seen with popular figures of any kind, so I think he actually has a better chance than others would of having an effect!
 
It's interesting how people see it. For me, it's Hamlet, not Question Time.
The reason why I think fame has gone to his head is because he seems to think that we should care about what he thinks, simply because he can act and that he thinks he can go to see the Home Secretary because he is famous.
So, if you are perfectly OK with this, would it be OK if the next winner of the Open used his acceptance speech to make a political point? What if the issue was something you disagreed with? Would that make a difference? What if say we had a winner of the Open who said " well, thanks for the jug, now let me tell you why you should get out of the Falklands" ( assuming that's something you disagree with) or raised some other issue? Would that be OK?
I am just asking. It's interesting. Do you think celebrity opinion is worth more than yours?
 
When has anyone including him said that his opinion is worth more than ours ?!

He has raised a good amount of money by using his standing - I applaud that as opposed to critizing it
 
Bit of a captive audience though isn't it? Not sure I'd be happy to pay out a decent wedge to watch Hamlet and effectively being asked to shell out again irrespective of the cause. I believe that if anyone wants to donate to any cause that's no problem but being "embarrassed" by peer group pressure and others shelling out seems wrongs
 
srixon 1 said:
Just because he asks the audience to donate does not make it compulsory to donate.
Click to expand...

Granted but peer group pressure is a very powerful tool and I think he knows that. You can imagine the looks (comments) from the row you are in, if they give and you don't. Of course you have the option not to, but in a public environment, it's difficult not to be forced into it.
 
This government is quite happy to take instruction from an Australian born American who quite likely hasn't paid a penny of tax in the UK... So, can't see any reason why they can't allow Benedict a few minutes to have a word in their ear...
 
Don't have an issue with any celebrity speaking out and raising money for causes they believe in, let's be honest Charities try to find celebrities to be Patrons just for that purpose, so good on him and well done, the part that leaves a bitter taste is, as someone mentioned, him doing it after a show, people have gone for an evenings entertainment, not to a fund raising event and yes I know we have freewill but in a trapped confined environment some of the audience could have easily felt undue pressure to donate.
 
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TBH I think it's more about making a political point than fund raising. The only reason this actually made the news was that he got carried away a little the other night and was forced to apologise for saying "f... the politicians".
He is entitled to his opinions like everyone else, but I just don't think it's the time or place and I don't see why "his" audience have to listen to his views when they have paid for a big night out.
 
Sweep said:
TBH I think it's more about making a political point than fund raising. The only reason this actually made the news was that he got carried away a little the other night and was forced to apologise for saying "f... the politicians".
He is entitled to his opinions like everyone else, but I just don't think it's the time or place and I don't see why "his" audience have to listen to his views when they have paid for a big night out.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't stay behind and listen, I would get up and leave.
 
Liverpoolphil said:
When has anyone including him said that his opinion is worth more than ours ?!

He has raised a good amount of money by using his standing - I applaud that as opposed to critizing it
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I agree totally with what LP said. (err, I felt kind of dirty typing that ;))

He has been passionate about these issues for a long time. And like it or not we are in a celebrity culture where their views are listened to. Yes that does not mean all celebrities have something interesting to say as a lot do not. But here the guys is well educated, he has a lot of fans and speaks a lot of sense. So why not use that influence in a good way?
 
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Hacker Khan said:
I agree totally with what LP said. (err, I felt kind of dirty typing that ;))

He has been passionate about these issues for a long time. And like it or not we are in a celebrity culture where their views are listened to. Yes that does not mean all celebrities have something interesting to say as a lot do not. But here the guys is well educated, he has a lot of fans and speaks a lot of sense. So why not use that influence in a good way?
Click to expand...
Would you feel the same if he argued for something you disagreed with, and took up your time and your night out to argue for it, even though you paid to see Hamlet and looked forward to it for weeks or months? Would that annoy you more? Does your belief that he speaks a lot of sense rely on the fact that you agree with what he is saying? Are less well educated people less entitled to an opinion? There are a lot of well educated people on both sides of the political divide, so being well educated does not necessarily mean you are right. If it was some kid from One Direction who did this, would that make a difference?
 
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