Alan Cumming: Actor and US Traitors host Alan Cumming hands back OBE

Actor Alan Cumming has returned the OBE helium was awarded successful 2009 arsenic portion of the Queen's day honours list.

The X-Men prima said though helium had been "grateful", his eyes were present "opened" implicit "the toxicity of empire".

Cumming, who besides hosts the US mentation of TV amusement The Traitors, said the OBE was for his acting, but besides for "activism for adjacent rights for the cheery and lesbian assemblage [in the] USA".

"Thankfully, times and laws successful the US person changed," helium added.

The Scottish actor, writer and presenter said helium was returning the grant connected his 58th birthday, and it was thing helium "recently did for myself".

He added that successful the US successful 2009, "the Defence of Marriage Act ensured that aforesaid enactment couples couldn't get joined oregon bask the aforesaid basal ineligible rights arsenic consecutive people, and Don't Ask, Don't Tell ensured that openly gay, lesbian oregon bisexual radical were barred from serving successful the subject (incidentally some these policies were instituted by the Clinton administration)."

When helium was made an OBE, helium said: "The combat for equality for the LGBT assemblage successful the US is thing I americium precise passionate about, and I spot this honour arsenic encouragement to spell connected warring for what I judge is close and for what I instrumentality for granted arsenic a UK citizen."

But Cummings said that 14 years later, the decease of the Queen and the "ensuing conversations astir the relation of monarchy and particularly the mode the British Empire profited astatine the disbursal (and death) of indigenous peoples crossed the satellite truly opened my eyes".

He added: "Also, thankfully, times and laws successful the US person changed, and the large bully the grant brought to the LGBTQ+ origin backmost successful 2009 is present little potent than the misgivings I person 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 large gratitude for being fixed it successful the archetypal place. I'm present backmost to being plain aged Alan Cumming again. Happy day to me!"

He said successful 2019 helium was arrogant of starring successful the archetypal ever web play connected US tv to person a cheery starring character, playing Dr Dylan Reinhart successful Instinct, which is shown connected Sky Witness successful the UK.

Cumming posted a connection connected Instagram astatine the time, saying helium was arrogant to person been portion of a amusement successful which "millions of radical volition person seen a same-sex matrimony portrayed for the archetypal time".

The actor's roles crossed signifier an surface person ranged from BBC drama The High Life and playing Hamlet for the English Touring Theatre, to US shows specified arsenic the Good Wife and a Broadway mentation of Cabaret.

Cumming, who has dual UK and US citizenship, besides precocious hosted a question amusement connected Channel 4 with his person and chap histrion Miriam Margolyes.

He received an honorary grade by the Open University successful 2015, for his publication to acquisition and culture.