The 42-year-old actor alongside his response uploaded a screengrab of the article in which Anthony Horowitz, author of "Trigger Mortis", apologised for having described Elba as being "too street" to play the famous British spy onscreen.
"Always Keep Smiling!! It takes no energy and never hurts! Learned that from the Street!!" he wrote.
Elba made no official comment on the matter aside from the upbeat text posted on Instagram.
In the same interview, Horowitz said that he preferred another black actor, Adrian Lester of the BBC series Hustle, to play the new Bond. After significant backlash, Horowitz apologised for his comments, saying the "too street" comment was clumsy and "a poor choice of word.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
