Alan Cumming returns OBE award in protest at 'toxicity' of British Empire - CNN

Alan Cumming has returned a prestigious royal award in an effort to sever his association with the “ toxicity ” of the British Empire.

The Officer of the British Empire (OBE) award is given to individuals who make a positive impact in their field.

In the post, Cumming recounted how “fourteen years ago, [he] was incredibly grateful to receive it in the 2009 Queen’s birthday honours list.”

His four-decade movie and TV career has included starring roles in “Annie,” “X-Men 2,” “the “Spy Kids” franchise and “The Good Wife.” In 1998, he won a Best Actor Tony award for his performance as the Emcee in the Broadway musical “Cabaret.”

Cumming, who is bisexual, has participated in a number of campaigns advocating for the equal rights of LGBT people, on behalf of organizations like the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

The prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda also announced in September plans to hold a referendum on whether to remove King Charles III as the head of state.