The BBC has issued a correction and apology after labelling Paul Mescal British following this week’s Oscar nominations.
Kildare man Paul is up for Best Actor for his role in Aftersun. This is one of a record 14 Irish nominations for the 2023 awards show.
Reporting on this, the BBC wrongly said: “British actors Paul Mescal and Bill Nighy are nominated for leading role.”
READ MORE: Met Eireann verdict on Ireland ‘Polar Vortex’ fears as weather phenomenon could trigger big freeze
They later apologised, saying: “In text running across the screen we reported that Paul Mescal was one of two British actors who had been nominated for an Oscar for a leading role.
“The text should have said that Paul Mescal is Irish. We apologise for the mistake.”
It isn't the first time Paul has had to clarify his nationality. Following his rise to fame starring in Normal People, various outlets said he was British, which led him to bluntly tweet “I’m Irish”. This went on to become the most liked Irish tweet of 2020.
The latest blunder follows a history of Irish artists and sports people having their success claimed by British broadcasters and journalists.
Irish people have been extremely sensitive about the issue, reacting with either annoyance or eye-rolling dismissal.
Eve Hewson calls out New York Times
Actress Eve Hewson recently had a pop at The New York Times after they made a blooper about her nationality. A group of well-known Irish actresses, including Eve and Eva Birthistle, reacted with surprise after they were described as British by The New York Times.
In an end of year list of the best TV of 2022, the newspaper highlighted Sharon Horgan’s comedy Bad Sisters, writing: “A quintet of British actresses - Eva Birthistle, Ann Marie-Duff, Sarah Greene, and Eve Hewson and Sharon Horgan . . . “
Hewson, the daughter of U2 front man Bono, tweeted: “OH DEAR @nytimesarts. WE ARE IRISH, PLEASE AND THANK YOU.”
She added, “P.S. Anne Marie is Irish/ English but… still.”
Birthistle added: “I’ll just speak for myself here but I’m definitely really an IRISH actor @nytimesarts.”
The article has since been amended.
UK journalist claims Saoirse Ronan is British
In the wake of her 2016 Bafta nomination for her performance in Brooklyn, journalist Richard Suchet remarked on Sky News that the UK could regard Saoirse Ronan as “one of our own.”
After being called out for the statement Suchet only dug himself into a deeper hole.
In response to a piece written about him on the RTE website he wrote: “She's from the British Isles, whether you like it or not, Brits will be willing her to win. Glad you got an article out of it tho.”
After much backlash he later apologised.
Conor McGregor corrects UFC boss
In 2015 UFC president Dana White got Ireland and the UK confused when conducting a pre-Aldo fight interview.
While speaking to McGregor he said: “All of Brazil will be watching him defend his title, all of the UK will be watching. You’ll have Canada, United States, Australia.
McGregor responded: "Ireland will be watching."
Not helping his case White responded: “Ireland, Ireland. I thought that was the same thing, apparently not.”
An unimpressed McGregor then stated: “It is most certainly not.”
White later claimed he made the statement deliberately to wind the fighter up.
Samuel L Jackson steps in
When his SWAT co-star Colin Farrell was called British during an interview Jackson decided to speak up.
English journalist and television presenter Kate Thornton called “him one of our own.”
An impressed Jackson took matters into his own hands stating:
“See that’s your problem right there. People in the UK have a big problem claiming people who aren’t theirs. We had that problem here in America too, it was called slavery.”
Cillian Murphy repeatedly corrects interviewer
Cillian Murphy has repeatedly told people he is in fact Irish and not British but perhaps most famously during an interview ahead of the release of Inception back in 2010.
While sitting next to Tom Hardy, the interviewer claimed the pair were both British. Murphy firmly replies “no, I’m Irish.”
Not taking the hint the interviewer continues “yeah I know, British.”
Murphy doesn’t back down again replying “no, no, no, I’m Irish.”
READ NEXT:
- Irish Mirror readers pick the greatest RTE chat show host ever and Ryan Tubridy is a distant fourth
- Concern for Cavan woman missing from Portugal as family beg Irish Government to help
- Dozens of chicken products recalled from Dunnes, Aldi, Tesco, Lidl in urgent 'do not eat' warning
- At least one dead after horror Spain machete rampage as police probe terrorist attack
- Two mums make kids' packed lunches and jet off to Lanzarote for the day for under €30
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
