Alan Cumming returns prestigious British royal award, citing “the toxicity of empire”
Cumming has sent back his OBE, which he accepted from Queen Elizabeth II in 2009
Aux News Alan Cumming
It’s Alan Cumming’s 58th birthday today, an event that the actor—and current Peacock game show host, as it happens—decided to celebrate, not by getting something, but by giving back. Specifically, Cumming rang in 58 by giving back his OBE (Officer Of The British Empire), one of the most prestigious royal awards in British society, citing as his reasons “the toxicity of empire.”
(Quick note for those of us with American brains: The OBE is not the same thing as a knighthood, although they’re related as parts of The Most Excellent Order Of The British Empire; knighthood is two “ranks” up from the award that Cumming got.)
Cumming laid out his decision on his Instagram, including why he decided to accept the OBE in the first place, back in 2009, as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday honors list. At the time, Cumming explains, his award was granted, not just for his work as a performer, but “for activism for equal rights for the gay and lesbian community”; in his acceptance at the time, he stated that, “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.”
Now, though, he feels like that particular fight is in much better shape, and, in the wake of Elizabeth II’s death, Cumming writes that:
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.
[via CNN]
22 Comments
Can knighthoods be renounced? Since you guys were on the subject of knighthoods briefly.
I believe Anthony Hopkins renounced his knighthood when he became an American citizen.
Weird. The Dark Knight is an American citizen, and he’s kept his.
What about Transformers: the Last Knight?
Yoda wasn’t even human and got a promotion from Jedi Knight to Master.
I don’t think that’s right. You don’t have to give up UK citizenship to become a US citizen.
I think he gave it up voluntarily.
They said OBE is 2 steps below a Knight. What is the middle one called?
CBE, Comptroller of the British Empire.
….mid-knight?
Yes and they can be stripped by the monarchy (though not posthumously which is why Jimmy Saville still has the title – it essentially expires at the death of the person who holds it, thereby making it impossible legally to remove it from them).There’s been a few cases of it happening.In Australia the former Queensland police comissioner Terry Lewis was stripped of his knighthood in the late 1980s or early 1990s after being convicted of the rampant corruption he was a key party to during the conservatives period in office. If I’m not mistaken he was only the 14th person in the previous 800 years to have their honour stripped from them.You can resign/return the title – The now-disgraced New Zealand corporate raider Ron Brierley handed his back a few years ago before it could be stripped from him after his kiddie porn conviction.
Who?
He played Nightcrawler in X-Men 2.
Hand in your geek card.
He literally played himself on Broad City…..
Some unfunny cunt
He’s of the Smurfs in The Smurfs!
Alan Cumming. Says so in the headline and body of the article.
I can respect the move. Although I’m sure some tabloid will now report its Harry or Megan’s fault.
Woke Smarties are grooming British youth!
Not knocking the gesture, but the justification for accepting in 2009 and rejecting in 2023, feels a bit flaky to me.
He learned more and changed his mind. No shame in that
If Chuck wants to knight me or just give me a lowly OBE I’d be happy to help him suppress the peasants. It’s just too cool to kot sell out for.