Lawrence Fox has accused black and working-class actors of only complaining about bias in the industry after they have become established.
The actor told a podcast presented by the right-wing commentator James Delingpole: "The most annoying thing is the minute a black actor – it's the same with working class actors – the minute they've got five million quid in the bank, every interview they do is about how racism is rampant and rife in the industry.
"And with working class actors, 'There's not enough working class actors'. You weren't saying that when you didn't have a f****** pot to piss in were you?"
The comments come following an appearance on Question Time during which he defended the media against calls of racism over the Duchess of Sussex.
He attracted criticism on social media after accusing university lecturer Rachel Boyle of "being racist".
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When Ms Boyle suggested Meghan had suffered racist treatment at the hands of the press, Fox replied: "It's not racism… we're the most tolerant, lovely country in Europe.
"It's so easy to throw the charge of racism and it's really starting to get boring now".
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He went on to say being "white privileged male" did not lock him out of the debate, and that it was "an immutable characteristic" and so to attack him as such was "racist".
Following the row, the actors union Equity appeared to call him a "disgrace to our industry" and urged its members "to unequivocally denounce [him] and his comments".
The union has told Sky News they were not "official comments", but were posted by "members from a committee… on their account" before being subsequently deleted.
Some Equity members replied online saying the union did not speak of their behalf.
Fox, who is the son of actor James Fox and part of the Fox acting dynasty, is not a member of Equity.
Following his debate appearance, he posted the Martin Luther King quote: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character".
He says this is both the position he took on the BBC show, and which he "lives byRead More – Source
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