Alan Cumming, a Scottish actor, sparked an internet discussion when he revealed that he had returned the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE), which he received in 2009. On January 27, the 58-year-old actor turned to Instagram to make a long message about how he recently “opened his eyes” to the “poison” of the British Empire.
He stated:
“Fourteen years ago, I was very happy to get it in the 2009 Queen’s birthday honors list, because it was awarded not only for my work as an actor, but also for ‘activists for equal rights for the gay and lesbian population in the United States. State.'”
He went on to say:
“Thankfully, the situation and the legislation in the United States have changed, and the great benefits given to the LGBTQ+ movement in 2009 are now less powerful than the reservations I feel related to the poison of empire.”
Alan Cumming, who became a US citizen in 2008, said there were some anti-gay laws in the country at the time and had fought against. The Defense of Marriage Act and the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which bars openly homosexual individuals from serving in the military, are among others on the list.
Alan Cumming’s perspective changed After Queen Elizabeth II died.
Cumming recalled the message he sent after being awarded an OBE in the same division. He expressed his “surprise” and “delight” at the accolade, saying:
“I am very passionate about the fight for equality for the LGBT community in the United States, and I see this honor as motivation to continue to fight for what I feel is right and for what I take for granted as a UK citizen. Thanks to the Queen and the individuals on her Birthday Honors List for calling attention to the US government’s inaction on this matter. It makes me happy to be British and energizes me as an American.”
However, he said his thinking changed once Queen Elizabeth II died, and arguments about the British Empire took over much of the discussion.
He went on to say:
“The Queen’s death and the subsequent discussion about the role of the monarchy, particularly how the British Empire benefited at the cost (and murder) of indigenous peoples around the world, really opened my eyes.”
Twitter reacts to Alan Cumming’s decision to return OBE.
After Alan Cumming’s Instagram post about the “poison” of the British Empire went viral, netizens were divided. Several commentators slammed the actor for acting for attention, with one labeling him a “traitor”. Others assert that to become a US citizen, one must renounce all titles and honors, thus calling the British Empire “poison” is a falsehood. 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 did not expect such an “international” response to his choice and that he “broke the internet.”
This horrible Scottish nationalist, Alan Cumming, has just been handed back his OBE. An insult to our Queen. Perhaps he will also hand back all the £ he has been paid, by the BBC. From British license payers. After all, he hates the British! pic.twitter.com/Z8U2679whJ
— Sergeant Shutup (@sergeantshutup) January 27, 2023
Alan Cumming on why he returned his OBE ✊I agree with him. pic.twitter.com/4xPdIhAGNV
— Joe MacReany (@JMacreany) January 28, 2023
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
