David Oyelowo: Lay off Cumberbatch

David Oyelowo thinks the people slamming Benedict Cumberbatch are "ridiculous".

The Sherlock star caused controversy recently when he used the outdated term "coloured" when referring to black actors. He was speaking about the movie industry at the time, arguing there should be more diversity.

David has now spoken out in support of Benedict, reminding people to focus on the message rather than the words used.

"I think it's ridiculous," he sighed to BBC Newsbeat.

"When you look at what he was actually saying it's clear that he's a huge supporter of black performers.

"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."

Benedict has since apologised and described himself as a "fool".

David wholeheartedly agrees with the fact there should be more opportunities for black actors. However, he would rather make positive headway than complain, such as his lead role as Martin Luther King Jr. in civil rights drama Selma.

"Excellence is the best weapon against prejudice. I intend to be part of the solution and not the problem," he argued.

"You've just got to keep on banging out good performances."

Benedict is hugely loved and is nominated for an Oscar with his role as code tracker Alan Turing in The Imitation Game. David doesn't think the actor's career will be negatively affected by the incident and that his skills will detract from the media frenzy.

Selma is nominated for Academy Awards in the best motion picture and best original song categories.