The ex-wife of actor, Colin Firth, Livia Giuggioli Firth, recently took to her Instagram account to announce to the world that she is returning her MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire). She has taken a similar stance to protest Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK, which she has termed a ‘cowardly display’ by the UK’s Royal family during Trump’s last visit to Britain. Her act has now raised questions related to the monarchy system, state honours, and also about the intersection of activism with symbolic representations.
For the uninitiated, Livia is a sustainable fashion campaigner, in addition to being the ex-wife of Colin. She tore her respected MBE and called Trump’s visit to the UK ‘poisonous rhetoric’. Livia has been called the ‘queen of the green carpet’ and became a recipient of the award in 2019 for her contribution towards sustainable fashion.
Livia Giuggioli Firth shows off her medal, which she plans to return
Livia made an Instagram clip where she was seen tearing off her paper certificate and also showcased her medal. For the uninitiated, Livia was married to Colin for 22 years before they split in 2019 and finalised their divorce in 2021. She shared that it was in 2019 that she was given the MBE honour for her services in trying to make the fashion supply chain a more just and less deadly place to work for garment workers worldwide.
Livia Giuggioli Firth reveals respecting King Charles
Livia also expressed respect for King Charles’s advocacy related to environmental and social justice. Livia was frank enough to state that the visit of Trump made it unacceptable for her to be with this honour. She shared her reflection on Trump’s visit to the UK, and she is afraid that she can’t reconcile the way he was appeased and honoured and, again, legitimised. The Italian environmental and sustainable advocate noted:
“Although I stand against the British Empire and remnants of that toxic system, I accepted the honour on behalf of the many garment worker activists who had educated and supported me. I also had great respect for King Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales, and his decades battling on behalf of social and environmental justice.”
Livia Giuggioli Firth has issues with Britain’s Royal family appeasing Donald Trump
The Italian activist has not been happy with the British Royal family giving US President Trump the appeasement he needed. She announced it officially to give back her medal and share of making the decision because of the principles she followed. Livia, tearing the MBE certificate publicly, also noted:
“I have been reflecting on his visit to the UK last week and I am afraid I can’t reconcile the way he was appeased and honoured and, again, legitimized.”
Livia Giuggioli Firth tore her MBE because of a royal banquet held at Windsor Castle for President Donald Trump
Livia has had issues with Trump being ‘appeased’ with a lot of ceremonial pomp, which also included a royal banquet kept for the US President at Windsor Castle. She was not at all happy with Trump’s policies being legitimised via hospitality, which was uncritical. The 56-year-old did share that last week’s display showed her nothing of those values she thought King Charles upheld – or its spirit. Rather, a frightening and cowardly display of appeasing someone who stands for the obliteration of the natural world and the most vulnerable people on earth, she shared.
Watch the full video here,
Livia opposed the legacy of the British and accepted the MBE, as she saw it as a good platform for justice. However, she felt that her ideas had been betrayed and that the royals needed to be on the right side of history, rather than giving respect to Trump, whom she slammed. It was from 1997 to 2021 that Giuggioli was married to Colin and had two sons, Luca and Matteo. Colin did not comment on the decision of his wife, who in her conclusive note wrote:
“I know so many honorable, decent British people who will be unable to reconcile their deeply held values of fairness and justice with the grotesque pantomime we witnessed. I think it’s only by taking a stand that we can make our feelings known.”
What are your views on hitting back at Britain’s Royal Family, tearing up her royal certificate and slamming Donald Trump?
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