Idris Elba and Prince Harry have been friends for years. Elba’s tight with the Prince of Wales too – Elba is an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, Charles’ big foundation. But Idris and Harry are bros and Idris attended the Sussexes’ wedding and deejayed the after-party. So it’s little surprise that Idris has been asked about Harry and Meghan as Big Driis tries to promote his current projects. Idris defended H&M:

Idris Elba, who attended the couple’s 2018 wedding with wife Sabrina Dhowre and served as a DJ at their reception, is now defending [the Sussexes’] decision to speak out, as he insists their voices shouldn’t be taken away.

Speaking in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, he said: ‘I will say that everyone has to have their opportunity to speak up about what they feel, you know. You cannot take someone’s voice away, that’s all we have to communicate.’

[From The Daily Mail]

Idris was also on the Today Show a few days ago and he was asked if he’s been in contact with Harry and Meghan since the interview, and he said: “No, Hoda, not at all. And you know, I try to stay out of these affairs as much as I can. They’re very dear to me but I haven’t heard from them.”

I think these are supportive comments and Idris clearly doesn’t want to be drawn into a larger conversation about the Oprah interview and all that. Which is fine – simply saying that Meghan and Harry have the right to speak and the right to communicate is probably “controversial” enough in Bitter Isle, especially for a Black man who has already spoken out for years about the racism he’s experienced in the British film industry and beyond.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.