‘We need to fix male behaviour’: Woke actor Benedict Cumberbatch calls for an end to ‘toxic masculinity’ and says men have to ‘shut up and listen’
- Sherlock star made the comments in an interview for his new Netflix Western
- He plays rancher Phil Burbank, who inspires fear and awe in those around him
- He said it was important to ‘finally point out the inadequacies of the status quo’
Benedict Cumberbatch has claimed ‘we need to fix the behaviour of men’ as he called for the end of toxic masculinity.
The Sherlock star made the comments while advertising his latest film, Power of the Dog, an adaptation of a novel by Thomas Savage.
Cumberbatch plays charismatic rancher Phil Burbank – who inspires fear and awe in those around him – and used a promotional interview to explain the importance of exploring such topics.
Benedict Cumberbatch has claimed ‘we need to fix the behaviour of men’ as he called for the end of toxic masculinity
The Sherlock star made the comments while advertising his latest film, Power of the Dog, an adaptation of a novel by Thomas Savage
He told Sky News: ‘We need to fix the behaviour of men. You have to kind of lift the lid on the engine a little bit.
‘I think it’s ever relevant, and in a world that’s questioning and ripping into and finally pointing out the inadequacies of the status quo and the patriarchy, it’s even more important.
‘You get this sort of rebellion aspect, this denial, this sort of childish defensive position of ‘not all men are bad’. No, we just have to shut up and listen.
‘There is not enough recognition of abuse, there’s not enough recognition of disadvantages and, at the same time, somewhere along the line – maybe not now, but somewhere along the line – we need to do maybe what the film does as well, which is examine the reason behind the oppressive behaviour to fix the men.’
It comes after his co-star, Kirsten Dunst, admitted that she ‘isolated’ herself from Cumberbatch on set.
The Spider-Man actress claimed she kept a distance during filming due to Cumberbatch largely staying in character as the menacing Phil.
Cumberbatch plays charismatic rancher Phil Burbank – who inspires fear and awe in those around him – and used a promotional interview to explain the importance of exploring such topics
In an interview with the Radio Times, she said: ‘We didn’t talk at all during the filming unless we were out to dinner on a weekend, all together, or playing with our kids.’
However she also added: ‘He’s so sweet. And he’s so British. Polite British, you know? I was like, ‘I can’t talk to you!’