SCOTLAND should be independent if it wants to be and ditch the royal family too, feminist writer Roxane Gay has said ahead of her first visit to the country.
The Bad Feminist author is set to perform her show Roxane Gay: With One N, at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall on March 9.
Speaking to The National over a video call, the 48-year-old said that she believed the monarchy should be “dismantled” and admitted finds it bizarre that British people are so invested in it.
An ally of Scottish independence, Gay said it was important to be on the “right side of history” and had sympathy for Scotland consistently being tied to “the motherlands' mistakes”, and in particular, Brexit.
“I mean, first of all, it is not for me to say, but based on what I've seen I think that if Scotland wants – I think any country that wants to be independent and can be independent, should be,” Gay said.
“And I think that a lot of Scottish people over the years have demonstrated that they want independence and the fact that you have to be beholden to the Crown and to Britain, that seems incredibly frustrating when you are your own country, and you have your own cultural values.
“Are there similarities? Of course. But you're an independent country already, and you were on the right side of Brexit.”
In the Brexit referendum in 2016, Scotland voted 63% to remain in the EU.
Gay added: “When you're on the right side of history, you should be allowed to be on the right side of history instead of having to be tied to the motherland’s mistakes all the time.
“I would qualify my statement by saying that this is not my area of expertise, and I recognize that as an American, I have f**k all to say about this.
“But I mean, of course, I have an opinion and yes I do think Scotland should be independent.”
Whilst Gay is based in New York, she has occasionally found herself embroiled in a Twitter storm or two after weighing in to defend Harry and Meghan or criticising the royal family. Occasionally, she has sparked the ire of Piers Morgan, but Gay doesn’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing.
She said: “Whenever I dare to comment on the royal family, I have found that British people, in particular, feel some kind of way about it, and also across other parts of the UK.
“I have found that people in Britain in particular are very, very wedded to the monarchy and in ways that really surprised me.
“I would have thought that given how much the monarchy costs, it's like this very small group of people who live unimaginably posh lives and everyone else gets to like watch it on TV, and you're okay with that? Are you serious?”
When The National pointed out that the level of support for the royal family was not as strong north of the Border, Gay said she was “glad”.
“I’m so grateful for that,” she said.
“Here are some people that are making sense, let Scotland be independent and be done with the monarchy.
“Every country has its version of a monarchy, including the United States, and I think it should all be dismantled. It’s not healthy, billionaires should pay taxes, and the Royal Family should pay taxes instead of living off of them.”
Gay is a keen cook and frequently posts her attempts at putting together various recipes on her Instagram story. As she is due to visit Scotland for the first time, The National asked if she had any plans to try Scottish delicacies like haggis.
Gay joked that the ban on haggis to the US, due to the offal contained in the recipe, was because Americans are “weak”.
“I would feel more inclined to enjoy the vegetarian haggis, but it's not on my list. I don't have the fortitude for haggis, but I respect it,” she added.
Tickets for Roxane: With One N are priced from £25 (to £35).
