Scottish actor Alan Cumming mentioned on Friday he was giving again his OBE — Officer of the Order of the British Empire — award, saying his eyes had been “opened” over “the toxicity of empire”.
Writing on his Instagram web page, the Intuition and The Good Spouse actor, who additionally has US citizenship, mentioned that whereas he had been “incredibly grateful” to obtain the popularity within the 2009 Queen’s birthday honours listing, he had not too long ago modified his thoughts.
Cumming mentioned he was awarded the OBE for his work as an actor in addition to “for activism for equal rights for the gay and lesbian community”.
“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,” Cumming mentioned.
“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.”
Buckingham Palace didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Cumming, who has gained two Tony awards and a Laurence Olivier award for his theatre work, obtained US citizenship in 2008.
Cumming informed his followers he had returned the OBE on his 58th birthday on Friday.
“I… 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,” he mentioned.
Fellow actor Michael Sheen mentioned in 2020 he had given again his OBE after trying into the “tortured history” between his native Wales and the English and British states.
