Benedict Cumberbatch found himself in a tense exchange with another cyclist in London last week after he allegedly ran a red light.
Footage captured the “Doctor Strange” star stepping off his bike and confronting an angry biker who was expressing his frustration. “You’re being lied to, you’re being lied to,” the unidentified cyclist insisted. “I was behind you the whole time.”
In reaction, Cumberbatch claimed the man was verbally abusing him, to which the cyclist, with a hint of sarcasm, responded, “Yeah, I verbally abused a guy who repeatedly broke the law.” Cumberbatch then conceded, “I did it once, too.”
The exchange escalated as the cyclist accused the “Sherlock” star of running two additional red lights, a claim Cumberbatch denied.
The disagreement continued for roughly ten minutes until the cyclist decided to leave, which allowed Cumberbatch a moment to take pictures with young fans nearby.
An onlooker commented on the situation, saying, “It was crazy. It felt like an arrogant street riot, almost as if it were staged.” They noted that, despite feeling unwell, Cumberbatch managed to charm the crowd, engaging with them about five times.
The cyclist remarked that both Cumberbatch and the other cyclist were blocking the lane, causing issues for others. Witnesses said that the agitated biker pursued Cumberbatch until he halted his car. “The masked man clearly acted like a vigilante. I was shocked to later learn it was Benedict Cumberbatch, and I felt even angrier,” he stated.
One witness said, “I don’t condone dangerous driving, but for that man to follow and create a scene was worse than Benedict just slowly moving through the traffic light.” They also noted that as schoolchildren passed by, looking on in awe, Cumberbatch graciously asked them to wait for a photo.
A representative for the actor was unavailable for comment on the incident.
