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Home » News » Actor returns OBE & the reason triggers usual suspects

Actor returns OBE & the reason triggers usual suspects

Darren Grimes was not happy at ALL with the decision.

Joe Mellor by Joe Mellor
January 27, 2023
in News
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Alan Cumming has handed back his OBE and the reason he has given has got some right wingers very angry.

The Scottish actor was awarded the gong in 2009 as he featured on the Queen’s birthday honours list, for his activism on equal rights for the gay and lesbian communities in America.

Cummings said although he had been “grateful”, his eyes were now “opened” over “the toxicity of empire”.

Didn’t know it was possible to love Alan Cumming more, but here he is explaining why he has returned his OBE.

Happy Birthday, Alan 💙 pic.twitter.com/VAqjRGpCGP

— Ryan Love (@RyanJL) January 27, 2023

He wrote on Instagram: “Today is my 58th birthday and I want to tell you about something I recently did for myself.

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I returned my OBE.


Fourteen years ago, I was incredibly grateful to receive it in the 2009 Queen’s birthday honours list, for it was awarded not just for my job as an actor but ‘for activism for equal rights for the gay and lesbian community, USA’. Back then the Defence of Marriage Act ensured that same sex couples couldn’t get married or enjoy the same basic legal rights as straight people, and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell ensured that openly gay, lesbian or bisexual people were barred from serving in the military. (Incidentally both these policies were instituted by the Clinton administration).


This is the statement I made at the time:
‘I am really shocked and delighted to receive this honour. I am especially happy to be honoured for my activism as much as for my work.


The fight for equality for the LGBT community in the US is something I am very passionate about, and I see this honour as encouragement to go on fighting for what I believe is right and for what I take for granted as a UK citizen. Thank you to the Queen and those who make up her Birthday honours list for bringing attention to the inaction of the US government on this issue. It makes me very proud to be British, and galvanised as an American’.

The Queen’s death and the ensuing conversations about the role of monarchy and especially the way the British Empire profited at the expense (and death) of indigenous peoples across the world really opened my eyes. Also, thankfully, times and laws in the US have changed, and the great good the award brought to the LGBTQ+ cause back in 2009 is now less potent than the misgivings I have being associated with the toxicity of empire (OBE stands for Officer of the British Empire).


So I returned my award, explained my reasons and reiterated my great gratitude for being given it in the first place. I’m now back to being plain old Alan Cumming again.


Happy birthday to me!

Actor Alan Cumming has announced he has returned his OBE over the “toxicity” of the British Empire. https://t.co/N48aAEScJ6 pic.twitter.com/j4bUImVFKS

— STV News (@STVNews) January 27, 2023

Some people loved it…

1.

Yasssss Alan Cumming- you total legend!!❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 returning his “obe” over toxicity of the British empire! ✊

— Scottish agus moiteil 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 saor Alba (@scottishlass1st) January 27, 2023

2.

He is right. No one in this world should accept an award celebrating the British Empire. The Empire was built over the blood, of Black and Brown people across Africa and America and India. https://t.co/zu08VHKwwT

— Agathe de Lili (@AgathedeLili) January 27, 2023

3.

Principles, honour, justice, these are all values not associated with the legacy of Empire. Kudos to Alan Cumming & I hope more follow in choosing these values over accolades, fame & self-importance. https://t.co/vSrD8NIIIn

— Shahmir Sanni (@shahmiruk) January 27, 2023

4.

As a Brit of Caribbean heritage descended from colonised people and enslaved Africans, I absolutely applaud this.

At the very least, all honours mentioning the British Empire should be renamed. That's for starters. https://t.co/NKK0J3fd0i

— Lorna_TVeditor (@Lorna_TVeditor) January 27, 2023

5.

This seems to be correct…

Gammons gonna be foomin https://t.co/vdBuY3zRLv pic.twitter.com/HWcLTE8mmk

— 1️⃣1️⃣🔫 (@LilCycloneN7) January 27, 2023

Criticism

Others were not happy, at all!

1.

Scottish actor Alan Cumming has handed back his OBE due to his “misgivings” with the “toxicity” of the British Empire. The Empire (including Scotland’s wholehearted role in it) was known long before he accepted it. Was he ignorant then, or just a virtue signalling pillock now? 🤔

— Darren Grimes (@darrengrimes_) January 27, 2023

2.

How do most people not post replies like this on articles about Alan Cumming? pic.twitter.com/vMAtQsEgB7

— Tim Sennett (@inversefox) January 27, 2023

3.

Actor Alan Cumming is all smiles as he picks up an OBE for his gay rights advocacy in 2009. Now he's handed it back, upset at "toxicity" of the Britsh Empire. I'm pleased a US citizen living in NYC has returned the gong as it means more available to those that value them. pic.twitter.com/Z458iuSSVn

— Kelvin MacKenzie (@kelvmackenzie) January 27, 2023

4.

Another woke needing publicity ,,, hope he hands back his passport as well https://t.co/1iwOoorcMA

— Frazer MacDonald (@FrazerMacDonal4) January 27, 2023

5.

So sick of these woke fools. Go back to Scotland, Alan. America doesn't want you. And take Meghan & Harry with you. Please. https://t.co/zNglIGvhbD

— Simon Templar (@SimTemToeTee) January 27, 2023

This is charming…

Cumming. Interesting name for a homosexual. Just sayin…

— Anton Olff (@AntonOlff) January 27, 2023

Related: A Micheal Jackson movie is in the works

Tags: Alan Cumming
Joe Mellor

Joe Mellor

Owner of Spotted News and former Head of News for The London Economic.

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