Alan Cumming on His Piers Morgan Feud and Returning His OBE Award
Cumming walked Andy Cohen through the viral story and his back-and-forth with Morgan.
To Alan Cumming, “pissing off” TV personality Piers Morgan is a “good thing.”
During Cumming’s appearance on “Andy Cohen Live” today (February 2), the acclaimed actor dished on his recent Twitter feud with Morgan over his decision to return his Officer of the British Empire (OBE) award from 2009. Cumming walked Andy Cohen through the viral story and his back-and-forth with Morgan, then shared that he thinks the public’s overall reaction has been “positive.”
“The good thing about it is: A. I didn’t think it was going to be this big [of] a deal,” Cumming said. “B. I’ve been overwhelmed by the positive; people understanding why I did it, and getting it … What I think is really positive about it is that it has engendered a lot of conversation.”
Cumming, who returned his OBE several months ago, made the announcement on his 58th birthday last week (January 27). The actor said he sent back the award, given to him by Queen Elizabeth II, in an effort to sever his association with the “toxicity” of the British Empire. The OBE is awarded to individuals who make a positive impact in their field.
Cumming received the honor in recognition of his services to film, theater, and the arts. Throughout his four-decade career, Cumming has starred in numerous stage and movie roles, including “Annie,” “X-Men 2,” the “Spy Kids” franchise, and “The Good Wife.” He took home a Best Actor Tony Award for his performance as the Emcee in the Broadway musical “Cabaret” in 1998.
In his sit-down with Cohen, Cumming also explained what he had to do in order to return his OBE — which he did by mail — and mentioned he can get it back any time if he changed his mind.
