James McAvoy has called out a posh English critic who blasted “whining Scottish accents” in his review of a major theatre production.
The Hollywood A lister challenged the Sunday Times’ Quentin Letts to explain in person his anti-Scottish put down in his coverage of Peter Gynt, starring fellow Scot James McArdle, which is running at the National Theatre in London.
In an Instagram post from San Diego, the Glaswegian actor, who has starred in a string of blockbusters, was outraged to read the critic’s review in the paper’s Culture section.
(Image: Instagram)
He said: “Quentin, I would love to have a conversation with you. Maybe we can have a post-show discussion as to why you think it’s OK to label the sound of an entire nation in such a derogatory fashion.”
The critic’s offending statement was published in the paper’s Culture section, and says: “After so much frenzied movement and whizz-bang theatrics, the fruity purr of veteran thesp Oliver Ford Davies and the button moulder brings a welcome calm to proceedings, and relief at last from the whining Scottish accents.”
When the article was pointed out to McAvoy he immediately jumped to the defence of his nation, and it’s host of talented actors.
His Instagram post goes on: “The person with an English accent is referred to by his name, as an individual with fruity superlatives, whereas the people who are ‘whining’ just get referred to as Scottish, not individuals, not as actors, just an entire nation.”
(Image: GC Images)
The show also features Paisley actress Dani Herron.
McAvoy, who is currently promoting horror sequel It Chapter Two, added: “You are clearly an educated man, and an intelligent man and I’d love to have a chat with you.
“Perhaps we could invite people with Scottish accents, people with English accents, perhaps we could invite the cast of Peter Gynt, perhaps the fruity burrs of Oliver Ford Davies could mediate – that would be fantastic, do get back to me.”
(Image: Twitter/Getty)
