The Scottish actor Alan Cumming sparked an online controversy when it was revealed that he had returned the Order of Excellence of the British Empire (OBE) he received in 2009. The 58-year-old actor took to Instagram on January 27 to write a lengthy message about how he had recently “opened his eyes” to the “toxicity” of the British Empire.
He declared:
“Fourteen years ago, I was truly overjoyed to receive it on the 2009 Queen’s Birthday Honors List, not only for my work as an actor but also for being a ‘gay and lesbian equal rights activist in the United States’.”
Then he said:
“Fortunately, circumstances and laws in the United States have changed, and the enormous benefit the award has had on the LGBTQ+ movement in 2009 is now less powerful than the reservations I feel about being attached to the poison of empire.”
Alan Cumming, who became a US citizen in 2008, said some of the country’s anti-gay laws at the time were the ones he fought against. The Marriage Protection Act and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which bans openly gay people from serving in the military, are among others on the list.
Alan Cumming’s views changed after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Cumming recalled the message he sent after being awarded an OBE for the same work. He expressed “surprise” and “delight” at the recognition, saying:
“I am deeply committed to the fight for equal rights for the LGBT community in the United States and I take this honor as motivation to continue to fight for what I believe is right and what I take for granted as a citizen of the UK. Thank you to the Queen and the individuals on her birthday honor roll for calling attention to the US government’s inaction on this issue. I’m happy to be British and it gives me energy as an American.”
However, he said his thinking had changed after Queen Elizabeth II’s death and that arguments about the British Empire dominated the debate.
Then he said:
“The Queen’s death and the ensuing debates about the role of the monarchy, particularly how the British Empire benefited from the cost (and slaughter) of Indigenous peoples around the world, was a real eye-opener for me.”
Twitter responds to Alan Cumming’s decision to reinstate OBE.
After Alan Cumming’s Instagram post about the British Empire’s “poison” went viral, netizens had mixed opinions. Some commenters berated the actor for acting to gain attention, including one calling him a “traitor”. Others point out that one must give up all titles and honors to become a citizen of the United States, thus calling the British Empire “poison” is untrue. Others praised Cumming’s brave decision to return the OBE, calling him “an absolute legend”. Cumming told The Hollywood Reporter on January 29 that he didn’t expect such an “international” reaction to his choice and that it “disrupted the internet.”
This lousy Scottish nationalist, Alan Cumming, just got his OBE back. An insult to our queen. He can also pay back all the money the BBC paid him. From UK licensees. After all, he hates the British! pic.twitter.com/Z8U2679whJ
– Sergeant Shutup (@sergeantsshutup) January 27, 2023
Alan Cumming on why he got his OBE back ✊ I agree with him. pic.twitter.com/4xPdIhAGNV
– Joe MacReany (@JMacreany) January 28, 2023
Categories: Entertaintment
Source: HIS Education