Benedict Cumberbatch

The family of Benedict Cumberbatch could be forced to pay reparations to Barbados as the island state seeks reparations from the families of slave owners.

The family of Benedict Cumberbatch could be forced to pay reparations to Barbados as the island state seeks reparations from the families of slave owners. But now the government of Barbados is stepping up efforts to claim reparations from the ancestors of slave owning families, the Telegraph reports. Benedict Cumberbatch targeted as Barbados seeks reparations from descendants of slave owners

The seventh great-grandfather of the Oscar-nominated star bought the Cleland plantation in the north of the island in 1728.

The actor has suggested that he took the role by way of apology for his family history. This depiction was contested by Ford’s descendants, who said he was described favourably in Northup’s memoir, which states: “There never was a more kind, noble, candid, Christian man than William Ford.” The British government at the time took out a loan to pay off slave owners across the Empire, a sum that was only finally paid off in 2015. A lot of this history is only really now coming to light,” he said. “This is at the earliest stages. It was also close to the bone, his ancestors having run a slave plantation on Barbados in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The family of Benedict Cumberbatch could soon be facing reparation payments due to slave-owning ancestors. Please turn off your ad blocking software to view ...

[Celebrity](/celebrity), [TV and Film](/tv-and-film), [News](/news) [Incredible Behind The Scenes Footage Shows Benedict Cumberbatch Acting Role Of Smaug Without CGI](/entertainment/incredible-footage-shows-benedict-cumberbatch-as-smaug-without-cgi-20220402) [Smile was never meant to be released in cinemas before £175 million box office success](/entertainment/smile-almost-denied-cinema-release-839812-20221222) [Sky forced to apologise after violent and sweary Game of Thrones ep is shown early morning](/entertainment/sky-apology-game-of-thrones-838467-20221221) [Tragic story of guy who played Sloth in The Goonies](/entertainment/the-goonies-sloth-tragic-true-story-930641-20221228) "Subjected to the cruelty of one malevolent owner (Michael Fassbender), he also finds unexpected kindness from another, as he struggles continually to survive and maintain some of his dignity," the synopsis reads. "The money should be used to turn the local clinic into a hospital, support local schools, and improve infrastructure and housing." The Oscar-winning film follows Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, who is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South. General secretary of the Caribbean Movement for Peace and Integration David Denny told the publication: "Any descendants of white plantation owners who have benefitted from the slave trade should be asked to pay reparations, including the Cumberbatch family. [Cumberbatch](https://www.ladbible.com/entertainment/benedict-cumberbatch-net-worth-20220607) family had no choice but to give up their plantation after slavery was finally abolished in the 1830s.

The Sherlock and Marvel stars family has previously expressed his remorse over his own family's links to slavery.

A lot of this history is only really now coming to light.” He said: “This is at the earliest stages. If the legal ruling goes in the island’s favour, Mr Drax will be the first descendant of slave-owning families to be successfully pursued, opening the doors for more ancestors of plantation owners to pay up. Now a top official on the Caribbean holiday island, who has a leading role on its national commission for reparations, said it is in the “earliest stages” of efforts to seek damages from ancestors of the Cumberbatch estate. He suggested it was the reason why he took the role of William Pitt the Younger in the film Amazing Grace which is about the abolition of the trade. [Sherlock](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/sherlock) star [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/benedict-cumberbatch) could be facing the prospect of legal action over its historical links to the slave trade in Barbados.

SHERLOCK actor Benedict Cumberbatch faces a compensation claim over slave-owning ancestors.His family once ran a plantation with 250 slaves on Barbado.

SHERLOCK actor Benedict Cumberbatch faces a compensation claim over slave-owning ancestors. Benedict Cumberbatch faces compensation claim over slave-owning ancestors Cumberbatch played a plantation owner in 12 Years A Slave.