Dominic West: 'Women should be more indulgent of affairs'

Dominic West has raised eyebrows by suggesting women should be “more indulgent” of infidelity.

The British star of The Affair told The Evening Standard he struggled to understand why wives would get so upset by a cheating spouse. “I mean, I think women should be more indulgent of affairs,” he said. “I really do. It’s daft to kick someone out over a fling. Isn’t it? Everyone should turn a blind eye to men’s behaviour between the ages of 40 and 50. Let it all blow over.”

Whether West’s comment was tongue-in-cheek is unclear, with his interviewer describing him as “roll[ing] around in controversial statements like a dog in fox poo” during their exchange.

The 46-year-old also touched on issues surrounding diversity during his reflections on his time in the critically acclaimed US drama The Wire by claiming the show did not win television awards “because there’s too many black people in it.”

“Of course it’s bl**dy racist, that’s old news,” he said after being asked if the industry is racist. “But racist makes it sounds as if people are being lynched. I suppose those people like to watch shows about themselves.

“My sister is a doctor. She’ll come home from work and watch ER, and you think ‘why?’ And I suppose most people in the industry are white people and they like watching white people.”