Idris Elba recently called out some of the criticism he has faced after rumors circulated several years ago that he was slated to become the next James Bond.

During a Wednesday appearance on Apple Podcasts Smartless with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett, Elba called some of the backlash to the casting rumors disgusting.

I was super complimented for a long time about this, Elba said about the idea that he was being considered for the coveted role as the next 007.

It was a huge compliment that every corner of the world except for some corners which we will not talk about were really happy about the idea that I could be considered, he later said. Those that werent happy about the idea made the whole thing disgusting and off-putting because it became about race.

And I got the brunt of it, he added.