Stephen Fry sparks controversy with criticism of MCC at Hay Festival
- Actor and writer Stephen Fry criticized the MCC at the Hay Festival for being stinking of privilege and classism.
- Fry accused the legacy cricket club of being full of 'beetroot-coloured gentlemen,' sparking a heated debate.
- The incident has generated mixed reactions and discussions on privilege and classism in sports.
Stephen Fry, the former president of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), said the club is full of privileged men and lacks diversity. He mentioned this during a discussion at the Hay Festival. Fry, who led the MCC from 2022 to 2023, criticized the club for showing privilege and classism, which he found disturbing. He described the members as looking like they came from an old-fashioned cartoon. Azeem Rafiq, a former Yorkshire cricketer, joined Fry on the panel. Rafiq raised concerns about racial abuse in cricket clubs in 2020, leading to sanctions against players who used racist language. This prompted an investigation into equality in English cricket, revealing issues of racism, sexism, and elitism. The MCC, known for its exclusivity, has made some changes to be more inclusive, like using the term "batter" instead of "batsman". Fry emphasized the need for more racial and social inclusion in cricket. He pointed out that alcohol plays a big role in club cricket, which can exclude non-drinkers like Muslims. Fry suggested that the sport should evolve beyond focusing solely on alcohol-related social activities to be more inclusive to all.