Liberty wrote:

Now you mention it, I do remember something from ages and ages ago ... an interview with him, where he was mildly critical about some fans when he was being interviewed (in a restaurant?), calling them "the florals".  I took it with a pinch of salt, but I do suspect that he might have been expressing genuine feelings "off the record" before he became more media savvy.
 

I remember that incident too. "Florals" were bothering Benedict during a business lunch and when he refused to sign an autograph for them, indicating that they are rude to butt in like that, they took pictures of him from apart...
He didn´t call them any names we could hear, he didn´t swear, he just refused to do their bidding.... surely that can be excused? How should he show them they overstepped the boundaries then?

I watched the clips and he seemed normal to me, also. I think that everyone might have a bit of apprehension on the show, just because you never know what Graham is going to bring up as a topic (they tend to go digging into people's pasts, which can be a bit awkward), but it's not mean-spirited. Benedict was laughing when he was telling the story about filming Doctor Strange, so I don't think he could have been too uncomfortable.

nakahara wrote:

Liberty wrote:

Now you mention it, I do remember something from ages and ages ago ... an interview with him, where he was mildly critical about some fans when he was being interviewed (in a restaurant?), calling them "the florals".  I took it with a pinch of salt, but I do suspect that he might have been expressing genuine feelings "off the record" before he became more media savvy.
 

I remember that incident too. "Florals" were bothering Benedict during a business lunch and when he refused to sign an autograph for them, indicating that they are rude to butt in like that, they took pictures of him from apart...
He didn´t call them any names we could hear, he didn´t swear, he just refused to do their bidding.... surely that can be excused? How should he show them they overstepped the boundaries then?

I thought I did excuse him, by saying I thought his comments were meant to be off the record?  But I wouldn't say the women had overstepped the boundaries at the point that he made the comment: they had looked over at him - kind of difficult not to do if Benedict Cumberbatch happens to be sitting in the same brasserie! 

We’ve barely sat down at our banquette at Gin Joint — a fancy-pants brasserie at the Barbican Centre — when Cumberbatch curses gently under his breath: “Oh lord, here we go, here we go.” He indicates two middle-aged women in flowery dresses sitting at a table across the room. “The florals over there,” he says, eyes averted. “They’re giving a bit of a head-turning — it’s begun.”
https://www.out.com/out-exclusives/2014/10/14/poised-make-alan-turing-his-own-sherlock-star-benedict-cumberbatch-no-stranger-sexual-politics-and-bullying

Anyway, I have a feeling he didn't intend for that to be published.

Last edited by Liberty (April 22, 2018 8:00 am)

I have less problems with these anecdotes from fans than I have with this recent issue. First of all, because we only hear one side of the story, Ben's version might be slightly different. And second, everyone is allowed to have a bad day. It's of course very unfortunate and unfair for whomever fan that falls on, but I certainly do not expect Ben do be perfect 24/7, that's impossible. 

However, these interviews are different for me. If he had only done it once, and then realised afterwards that perhaps his wording was a bit unfortunate or a bit misunderstood, he could have used that second interview to set the record straight. (That was what Martin did in this case). Instead, when he get asked a second time, he uses the word "patethic", which is even stronger than before.

So to me this is not about him being perfect or having a bad day. It's how deliberate it is that strikes me.

I just hope that media won't try to make this into a public quarrel and run to Martin with "Did you know what Ben said?" 

@BB,re: the florals comment,  I have a feeling that the interviewer had an agenda in posting it (to be fair, I suppose they always have an agenda - a good story, a certain angle, etc.).  What the fans were meant to see was the very polite refusal of a photo later, not this (what seems to be a private) comment. 

Re: the comments about the Martin, there seem to be three interviews.  Two recorded ones, and the Telegraph one. I think the Telegraph one seems to be last. 

I honestly don't know.  I'm still puzzled and surprised by it.  As Vhanja said, he presumably had time to rethink and clarify between the interviews, but if anything the last one is more strongly put ("pathetic" rather than "weak"). 

Of course, we are all just speculating and none of us knows what's really going on (if anything). But I still don't think this has anything to do with Martin and Amanda splitting up. Ben and Martin were never close friends. Good colleagues (at least back in the day), but not close friends. Meaning I can't see how Ben could have been involved in the break-up, or the aftermath, in any way. I can't see Martin confiding in him, and I really can't see Ben sticking his nose into their affairs. 

The only thing I can ever imagine having happened, would have been some kind of conflict between Martin and Amanda while filming S4, and Ben getting involved there. But even so, I can't see how that should have any impact now.

Anyway, these are just wild speculations, we don't know anything.

It feels as if the "rift" (if there is one) is more professional than personal, so I don't know if it has anything to do with Amanda (well, obviously I don't!)?
I don't want any more unpleasantness, but I would love some clarification of what's going on here.  Although I suppose three interviews is enough to be clear?

Just some thoughts: If I remember correctly, there were some rumours of a rift long before S4, i.e. between S3 and TAB. One was concerned with Benedict doing Hamlet and Doctor Strange and not being available for some time but I am not sure if this had any bearing on their relationship. During this time there was a promo event for The Hobbit series at London where Benedict tried to talk to Martin who seemed quite dismissive. The awkward moments were filmed and I saw them at the time. 

As for the Telegraph interview: I think Benedict probably had an issue with the paper and/or the journalist himself because he used quite strong language throughout and did not seem happy with the stance the journalist took. Here is another non-Martin non-Sherlock quote from the article (this is about Patrick Melrose):

"I mean, what, you think people who are sexually abused by their father from the age of five to 10 aren’t worthy of our attention because they’re posh? You need to go back to ethics school, surely. That’s a terribly shaky moral position to hold."




 

Last edited by SusiGo (April 22, 2018 3:25 pm)