Morgan Freeman has strongly criticised the portrayal of the civil unrest in Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray – a 25-year-old African-American man arrested for possession of a switchblade – in police custody.

Gray had sustained injuries to his spinal cord and larynx in jail, sparking protests across the city.

While some of those demonstrations were peaceful, some also spilled over into rioting.

And while Freeman believes the media coverage of the unrest has improved since similar scenes emerged in Ferguson last year, he also had a strong opinion on news outlets following the events.

“Now, they’re getting more of the whole picture,” the actor told The Daily Beast. “Ferguson? No. Baltimore seems to be coming up with a different scenario in the background.

“People are saying, ‘You were not all there when we were just talking and trying to make a point, but if we set something on fire, all of a sudden you’re all here. Why is that? What’s the difference?’ And some young reporters are listening. That sort of observation is very useful.”

After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Show all 22 1 /22 After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Baltimore riots Police and firefighters respond in front of a building that caught fire as protests of the death of Freddie Gray continue in Baltimore After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Baltimore riots A Baltimore firefighter cuts his way into a burning convenience store with a saw to attack a fire set by rioters at East Biddle Street and Montford Avenue in Baltimore After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Baltimore riots A Baltimore firefighter climbs onto a rooftop to attack a fire set by rioters in a convenience store and residence at East Biddle Street and Montford Avenue After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Baltimore riots Baltimore firefighters attack a fire in a convenience store and residence during clashes after the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Baltimore riots Gloria Darden, mother of Freddie Gray, covers her face during a news conference after a day of unrest following the funeral of Gray After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Baltimore riots The family of Freddie Gray gather with clergy and pray during a news conference in Baltimore After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Baltimore riots Rioters burned police vehicles and pelted officers with stones AP After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Baltimore riots A man has pepper spray cleaned from his eyes Getty Images After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Baltimore riots Baltimore police officers form a line in front of protesters Getty Images After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Baltimore riots Looters ransacked shops and torched police cars amid the unrest AP After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Baltimore riots A CVS chemist outlet burns in Baltimore after it was set alight by rioters AP After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Baltimore riots The Shaheed family assess the damage to their store in downtown Baltimore David Usborne After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Baltimore riots The riots broke out just a few streets from the church where the funeral was held AP After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Baltimore riots A protester is detained in Baltimore following the funeral of Freddie Gray earlier in the day AP After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Baltimore riots Police in front of a building that caught fire after being looted EPA After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Baltimore riots A youth washes out pepper spray from his eyes near a building that caught fire after being looted EPA After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Baltimore riots People pose for photographs on the hood of a Baltimore Police car destroyed by demonstrators GETTY After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Baltimore riots The riots broke out just a few streets from the church where the funeral was held for Freddie Gray GETTY After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Baltimore riots Demonstrators threw rocks and other objects at police following the funeral of Freddie Gray AP After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Baltimore riots Arrests have been made, with many of those involved appearing to be school children and students AP After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Baltimore riots Protests over Freddie Gray's death turned violent Reuters After Freddie Gray: Baltimore unrest in pictures Baltimore riots The circumstances surrounding Freddie Gray's death in custody still remain unclear AP

“The other thing is that technology lets us see behind the scenes a little bit better,” he continues.