Laurence Fox hits out at 'institutional racism' over inclusion of Sikh soldier in Oscar-nominated 1917

Actor Laurence Fox has hit out at the inclusion of a Sikh soldier in Oscar-nominated film 1917, calling it “institutionally racist”.

Speaking on James Dellingpole’s podcast, Fox - best known as DS James Hathaway on ITV drama Lewis - revealed that seeing actor Nabhaan Rizwan in the film “diverted” him from the story.

He added that the “oddness of the casting” causes a “very heightened awareness of the colour of someone’s skin”.

Fox said: “There were Sikhs fighting this war.. Ok, you’re now diverting me away from what the story is.”

He added: “There is something institutionally racist about forcing diversity on people in that way.”

It comes after the actor sparked controversy last week after an appearance on Question Time in which he called an academic studying race and ethnicity racist for calling him a “white, privileged male”.

Sikhs fought in their own regiments in the British Army from September 1914, as part of the British Empire, and thousands died in the conflict.

Fox reacted to the backlash to his comments last week as “water off a duck’s back”.

While appearing on the BBC show, the actor said racism should only be called out if it’s “obvious”.

The disagreement came after a woman in the audience spoke about the criticisms of Meghan Markle.

The audience member said: “It’s racism, she is a black woman, and she has been torn to piece.”

Fox replied: “It’s not racism.”

He added: “We're the most tolerant, lovely country in Europe.

"It's so easy to throw the card of racism at everybody... and it's really starting to get boring now."

The audience member hit back to say: “What worries me about your comment is is you are a white privileged male."

Fox replied: "I can't help what I am, I was born like this, it's an immutable characteristic.

"So to call me a white privileged male is to be racist. You're being racist."

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