Rush Limbaugh is attracting controversy with remarks that a black actor shouldn’t be playing James Bond, who he said should always be “white and Scottish.”
Limbaugh made the remarks earlier this week in addressing rumors that black actor Idris Elba could be the secret agent in a future installation of the 007 series. The idea didn’t sit too well with Limbaugh, who said James Bond should only be played by a white actor.
“James Bond is a total concept put together by Ian Fleming,” Limbaugh said. “He was white and Scottish, period. That is who James Bond is. We’ve had 50 years of White Bonds because Bond is white. Bond was never black. Ian Fleming never created a black Brit to play James Bond.”
Limbaugh also found a way to work President Obama into his remarks, saying that casting a black actor to play bond would be like getting white actors to play the President and First Lady Michelle Obama.
“Sometimes, a story is just a story. But we can always make it better. We can always be more fair. We can always be more equal about it.” Limbaugh said. “So, fine and dandy. George Clooney and Kate Hudson as Barack and Michelle Obama, and you can have Idris Elba as James Bond.”
The remarks didn’t sit well with many, who saw it as thinly-veiled racism from Rush Limbaugh.
Rush Limbaugh is upset that a fictional character is being played by a black man. So tell me again how Rush isn’t blatantly racist?
— Qrys Bin Thynkn (@QrysBinThynkn) December 26, 2014
Rush Limbaugh: Elba can’t be Bond because he’s black http://t.co/dAEYtlPZ37 Racist idiot, @Idriselba would be a great successor to Daniel
— Jenny Fallover (@jfallover) December 26, 2014
Limbaugh has gotten himself into trouble for remarks on race. In 2003, he ended a short-lived stint on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown after making racially charged remarks about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.
“Sorry to say this, I don’t think he’s been that good from the get-go,” Limbaugh said. “I think what we’ve had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn’t deserve. The defense carried this team.”
But others seem to think that Rush Limbaugh is just trying to get himself publicity with his remarks on James Bond, and if that is the case then it certainly has worked. His comments have made headlines across the globe.
