The Traitors US host Alan Cumming explains why he's given back his OBE

Tasha Hegarty
·2 min read
alan cumming, the traitors usa
Traitors US host explains why he returned` his OBEPeacock - BBC

The Traitors US host Alan Cumming has handed back his OBE.

The actor and host received an OBE in 2009 'for activism for equal rights for the gay and lesbian community, USA' at a time when same-sex couples weren't allowed to get married in the US.

At the time he thanked "the Queen and those who make up her Birthday honours list for bringing attention to the inaction of the US government on this issue", adding that receiving it made him "very proud to be British, and galvanised as an American", but he has now decided to return it.

the traitors
NBC Universal

In an Instagram post on his 58th birthday, Cumming explained the reason he handed back his award.

He said: "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).

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alan Cumming (@alancummingreally)

Related: The Traitors US is lacking one key element compared to the UK

"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!"

Traitors first came to be in the Netherlands in 2021, but its UK and US spinoffs have since taken the world by storm. Both versions have gone on to become extremely successful, with Cumming hosting the US version, and Strictly Come Dancing's Claudia Winkleman fronting the UK version.

The Traitors US is available to stream on BBC iPlayer in the UK and Peacock in the US.

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