Critics have accused Idris Elba of being a ‘hypocrite’ for fronting a knife crime campaign despite appearing in films which ‘glorify violence’.
The actor has launched a new campaign called Don’t Stop Your Future to combat knife crime in Britain, which has surged in recent years with many of the victims being teenage boys.
He is demanding an immediate ban on machetes and so-called ‘zombie knives’ – bladed weapons originally inspired by zombie films and has received praise for using his status to help raise awareness of an issue which is ‘devastating communities’.
Some however have hit out at the actor, demanding he takes on ‘no more violent roles’ after starring in The Wire,’ ‘Luther’ and ‘The Dark Tower’.
‘This from a man who has made a living glamourising violence, drugs and guns!! Absolute publicity seeking hypocrite,’ one critic said on X.
Another said: ‘You are a total hypocrite, you made your money off promoting violent movies.’
Critics have accused Idris Elba of being a ‘hypocrite’ for fronting a knife crime campaign despite appearing in films which ‘glorify violence’
Some have hit out at the actor, demanding he takes on ‘no more violent roles’
Violent scenes in Luther: The Fallen Sun, a film starring Idris Elba
Idris Elba stands next to an installation of 247 piles of folded clothes representing the number of people killed by knives last year as he launches his campaign ‘Don’t Stop Your Future’ in Parliament Square in London on January 08
Idris Elba starring in Luther – critics have hit out at Idris Elba for appearing in shows which contain violence
Critics have accused Idris Elba of being a hyprocrite – telling him ‘no more violent roles’
Elba is well known for roles in the television series’ ‘The Wire’ and ‘Luther’.
The Wire, starring Elba, is centered around the narcotics scene in Baltimore, through the eyes of police as well as drug dealers and users.
Luther is a crime thriller series starring Elba as homicide detective John Luther, which was followed by a feature film continuation Luther: The Fallen Sun.
In Luther: The Fallen Sun, detective Luther breaks out of prison to hunt down a sadistic serial killer who is terrorising London.
One critic on X said: ‘Idris, have you ever thought of turning down film/show roles with violence?’
MailOnline has contacted Elba’s representatives for comment.
Elba has however received a lot of praise for raising awareness of knife crime, with one saying he can’t be faulted.
London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan has applauded the actor for helping to shine a light on ‘this crucial issue’.
One supporter on X wrote: ‘Idris Elba is an impressive advocate on the issue, one who is realistic about the need for enforcement and talks about the problem of knife crime in ethical terms as a problem that errodes our national community.’
Another thanked him for ‘making young voices heard’ and ‘families listened to’.
In Luther: The Fallen Sun, detective Luther breaks out of prison to hunt down a sadistic serial killer who is terrorising London
One critic on X said: ‘Idris, have you ever thought of turning down film/show roles with violence?’
Luther is a crime thriller series starring Elba as homicide detective John Luther
Violent scenes in Luther – which features the actor Idris Elba
Luther is a crime thriller series starring Elba as homicide detective John Luther
Many have applauded Elba for helping to raise awareness of knife crime
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme yesterday morning, Elba said he is raising awareness of the issue ‘as a parent’ and argued that ‘very little’ is being done following the recent spate of horrific attacks.
He added that the ‘country is at a boiling point’, and there needs to be a ‘voice or a fixed point’ that people can rally around to address the issue.
It comes amid a series of horrific stabbings across the UK including 16-year-old schoolboy Harry Pitman who was knifed to death as he stood and waited to watch the Primrose Hill New Year’s Eve fireworks in Camden, north London, last week.
The murder, which took place just minutes before midnight, made him at least the 17th teenager brutally killed in the capital in 2023 – most of those cruelly taken away from their loved ones in the last year had also been stabbed.
In August last year the government announced a ban on machetes and zombie-style knives with no practical use, as well as an increase in the maximum penalty for the importation, manufacturing, possession and sale of these weapons and greater powers for police to seize them.
Poster for television series ‘The Wire’ – Sonja Sohn and Dominic West star as detectives Kima Greggs and Jimmy McNulty, with Idris Elba as Stringer Bell in the reflection
Some have hit out at the actor, demanding he takes on ‘no more violent roles’.
But it is yet to legislate for the changes and Elba said parliament had not given it the focus it deserved.
The Luther star is lobbying for more funding in youth services and releasing a song in an effort to tackle serious youth violence across the UK.
Elba launched the campaign called Don’t Stop Your Future with an installation in Parliament Square, London.
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