Tom Hiddleston apologises for ‘inelegantly expressed’ Golden Globes speech following criticism

The star was ridiculed for his long-winded speech about his time in South Sudan 
Apology: Tom Hiddleston has apologised for his Golden Globes speech
Reuters
Jennifer Ruby10 January 2017
The Weekender

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Tom Hiddleston has apologised for his Golden Globes speech, admitting that it was ‘inelegantly expressed’.

The British actor, who won an acting prize for his role in The Night Manager on Sunday night, was criticised for telling a ‘self-congratulatory’ story about his time in South Sudan.

After finding himself the subject of some ridicule on social media, the 35-year-old has posted a statement on Facebook.

“I just wanted to say… I completely agree that my speech at the Golden Globes last night was inelegantly expressed,” he wrote.

“In truth, I was very nervous, and my words just came out wrong.”

He continued: “Sincerely, my only intention was to salute the incredible bravery and courage of the men and women who work so tirelessly for UNICEF UK, Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and World Food Programme, and the children of South Sudan, who continue to find hopeand joy in the most difficult conditions. I apologise that my nerves got the better of me.”

Many of Hiddleston’s fans seemed shocked that the star had even felt the need to aplogise, with one person commenting: “Inelegantly? From you? Are you kidding? Tom Hiddleston, you came across as the intelligent, articulate and compassionate darling that you are. Please pay no mind to anyone who cannot recognise that. You stand far above the others. Congratulations!”

Another wrote: “I think your acceptance was great in a night full of eloquent speeches and moments of reflection! Congrats on your Golden Globe and your work with these organizations.”

Accepting his award at the weekend, Hiddleton said on stage: “I recently went to South Sudan, which is the youngest country in the world, in East Africa with the United Nations Children’s Fund.

“I do a little bit of work with them to spread the word as fast as I can. It’s a terrible situation for children there. The Night Manager is about arms dealing, and there are far too many arms coming into South Sudan.

Golden Globe Awards 2017 - In pictures

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“One night we were having a bite to eat at the canteen, where we were staying, and a group of young men and women tottered over to the table, and we were all having what they call a ‘dirty beer” in humanitarian language.

“They were a group of Médecins Sans Frontières doctors and nurses. And they wanted to say hello because during the shelling the previous month, they had binge-watched ‘The Night Manager.’”

Hiddleston concluded: “And the idea that I could provide ― or that we could provide ― some relief and entertainment for the people who worked for UNICEF and Médecins Sans Frontières and the World Food Program, who are fixing the world in the places where it is broken, made me immensely proud.”

The camera panned to a number of confused-looking faces in the audience, including Christian Slater and Naomi Harris.

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