Benedict Cumberbatch found himself at the centre of a dramatic public confrontation after allegedly jumping a red light while riding a £5,200 e-bike through London.
The 49-year-old Sherlock and Doctor Strange star was caught in a heated 10-minute argument with another cyclist who accused him of repeatedly breaking traffic laws in the middle of a busy cycle lane.
According to eyewitnesses, the drama unfolded around 5.30pm on Tuesday when Benedict allegedly rode through a red light before being pursued by a furious masked cyclist. Video footage from the scene showed the Oscar-nominated actor leaving his cargo bike and crossing the road to confront the man face-to-face.
During the explosive exchange, the cyclist repeatedly called Benedict “deluded” and accused him of lying, shouting: “I was behind you the entire time.”
Benedict fired back by accusing the cyclist of “verbally abusing” him, while insisting he had only crossed one light illegally. The actor admitted: “I did it once,” after the cyclist sarcastically mocked him for “completely repeatedly” breaking the law.
The cyclist continued accusing the Hollywood star of riding through multiple crossings and lights, while Benedict strongly denied the claims.
Shocked onlookers gathered around as the argument escalated, with one witness describing the bizarre moment as “a pompous road rage incident” that almost looked staged.
The witness said: “Everyone was just stood there with jaws dropped. The masked guy seemed like some kind of vigilante and he doubled down even after realising it was Benedict Cumberbatch.”
Despite the fiery confrontation, Benedict reportedly remained calm enough to stop and pose for selfies with young fans moments later. One witness revealed that schoolchildren nearby excitedly asked: “Is that Doctor Strange?”
The actor allegedly told them: “Not at the moment, in a minute,” before later taking photos with them once the confrontation ended.
The incident has also reignited memories of another clash involving Benedict and a cyclist back in 2019 on the Isle of Wight. During that incident, the actor’s car reportedly clipped a cyclist on a country lane before the rider allegedly slapped him during the aftermath.
Despite the tense encounter at the time, Benedict reportedly offered the injured cyclist water, clothing and even a lift to a nearby medical centre.
