Alan Cumming’s OBE honor return was announced on the day he turned 58. “The Good Wife” star shocked fans with the news but was even more amazed at the reaction from the English media.
In June 2009, the now-deceased Queen Elizabeth honored Scottish movie star Alan Cumming with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) award. This accolade gave the nod to his contributions as an entertainer and a gay rights activist. At the time, the then 44-year-old confessed:
Other celebrities who received the honors on the Queen’s birthday included “Dracula” star Christopher Lee who also got a knighthood, and the seasoned cook, Delia Smith, who received a Commander of the British Empire (CBE), and golfer Nick Faldo who was knighted.
After thirteen years of proudly wearing Alan Cumming’s OBE, the “Instinct” star surrenders it, causing him to be headline-grabbing content.
Alan Cumming’s OBE Honor Surrender On his Birthday
On the day he turned 58, the Scottish native celebrated himself most uniquely. He returned the honors conferred on him by the Queen. Following a studio shot of his recent look and a throwback image, the actor wrote that he received the honors for his participation in LGBTQ rights.
A post shared by Alan Cumming (@alancummingreally)
While he remained entirely grateful, Cumming quipped:
Alan Cumming’s OBE honor return speech highlighted the changes the LGBTQ community has witnessed over the years. He signed off with his new title— which was no title, proudly proclaiming, “I’m now back to being plain old Alan Cumming again.”
The Actor Says His OBE Honor Return Broke The Internet
Alan Cumming’s OBE honor return triggered something he had not expected. Of course, the Hollywood favorite knew his decision would stir a reaction but not so much.
During his interview with The Hollywood Reporter at the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards, Cumming admitted his shock at how the English media reacted.
After his announcement, theGolden Globe Award nominee said it was startling to see his name on the front pages of all Scottish newspapers. In his words:
