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Alan Cumming fires back at 'lump of ignorance' Piers Morgan over OBE remarks

The Scottish actor said that if he was p****** off Morgan he was 'on the right track'

Piers Morgan has clashed with Alan Cumming online. (TalkTV/Alamy)
Piers Morgan has clashed with Alan Cumming online. (TalkTV/Alamy)

Alan Cumming has fired back at “lump of ignorance” Piers Morgan after the presenter called him an “attention-seeking little twerp” for handing back his OBE.

The Scottish actor shared last week that he had recently returned the honour he was given in 2009 amid concerns about the “toxicity of empire”, leading Morgan to snipe on Twitter: “What a pathetic, disingenuous, disloyal, attention-seeking little twerp.”

However, Cumming clearly wasn’t bothered, saying on SiriusXM Progress radio that “if you’re p****** off Piers Morgan, you’re on the right track”.

Read more: Alan Cumming finally felt his Scottishness was valued in New York

“I think that lump of ignorance, if I’m p****** him off, I’m doing the right thing,” added the actor, 58.

He also went on to discuss why he handed back the honour, which he was given for both his acting and his activism.

However, Morgan, 57, shot back: “Ditto, Mr Cumming.”

Sharing a clip of the actor’s radio interview, he went on: “Your explanation of your OBE return is so comically disingenuous.

"You did it for a bit of wokie social media love and (much-needed!) press attention – just admit it.”

Investitures at Buckingham Palace
Alan Cumming was made an OBE in 2009. (PA Images/Alamy)

Cumming announced his decision to return his OBE on Instagram, telling fans that at the time he had been “incredibly grateful” to receive it for his acting and activism for equal rights for the gay and lesbian community.

He went on: “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)."

Piers Morgan arrives at the 2019 British Academy Britannia Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills
Piers Morgan shared his thoughts on Alan Cumming giving his OBE back. (PA Images/Alamy)

"So I returned my award, explained my reasons and reiterated my great gratitude for being given it in the first place," the actor told his followers.

Read more: Piers Morgan recalls being punched by Jeremy Clarkson and reveals he still has scar

"I’m now back to being plain old Alan Cumming again.”

Watch: Alan Cumming returns OBE honour