Idris Elba responds to black 'James Bond' rumors

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Idris Elba is finally speaking out and address the possibility that he might star as the next James Bond.

The 42-year-old actor took to Twitter to thank those who have supported the idea of him starring as Bond and sent a message to his haters.

“Isn’t 007 supposed to handsome? Glad you think I’ve got a shot! Happy New year people,” he wrote.

The Idris as Bond whispers came from the leaked emails of Sony Pictures Entertainment. The studio’s co-chairman Amy Pascal wrote in an email that “Idris should be the next Bond.”

Right-wing radio personality Rush Limbaugh said just days ago that he can’t stand the idea of Elba playing James Bond because he’s black.

“James Bond is a total concept put together by Ian Fleming. He was white and Scottish. Period. That is who James Bond is, was,” Limbaugh said. “But now [they are] suggesting that the next James Bond should be Idris Elba, a black Briton, rather than a white from Scotland. But that’s not who James Bond is and I know it’s racist to probably point this out.”

Limbaugh also said that having Elba as Bond would be like having George Clooney and Kate Hudson star as Barack and Michelle Obama or Kelsey Grammer portraying Nelson Mandela.

Follow theGrio.com’s Entertainment Editor Chris Witherspoon on Twitter @WitherspoonC.