Tom Hiddleston apologises as internet mocks his Golden Globes speech

TOM Hiddleston told the audience a “quick story” during his Golden Globes acceptance speech — and it didn’t go down well. Now he’s issued an apology.

POOR Tom Hiddleston delivered one of the most earnest speeches at yesterday’s Golden Globes — and got lambasted for his efforts.

Taking to the stage to accept his award for best actor in a miniseries or television film for The Night Manager, the British star took a respectable 45 seconds to thank those who’d helped him to win the award.

Then, Taylor Swift’s ex uttered the words that strike fear into any award show producer’s heart: “Quick story — I know it’s been a long night ...”

Here he goes ... Picture: Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

From there, Hiddleston treated the increasingly bored-looking audience to a story about his recent trip to South Sudan with the charity United Nations Children’s Fund.

“I do a little bit of work with them, try to spread the word as best I can,” he told the crowd.

“One night we were having a bite to eat at the canteen where we were staying and a group of young men and women tottered over to the table, and we were all having what they call a ‘dirty beer’ in humanitarian language,” he continued. “They were a group of Médecins Sans Frontières doctors and nurses. And they wanted to say hello because during the shelling the previous month, they had binge-watched The Night Manager.”

“And the idea that I could provide ― or that we could provide ― some relief and entertainment for the people who worked for UNICEF ... who are fixing the world in the places where it is broken, made me immensely proud,” he finished.

The reactions of the seemingly disinterested celebrities listening to Hiddleston made for one of the night’s most Gif-able moments:

On social media, the reaction was (Taylor) swift, with many remarking that Hiddleston had couched a humblebrag about his TV show in a worthy story about volunteering in Africa. If you take time in your speech to tell a “quick story,” it’d better have a point — and for many viewers, the point seemed to be that Hiddleston had fans in South Sudan.

TOM HIDDLESTON: Listen to my speech about Sudan
AUDIENCE: Okay
HIDDLESTON: …and how it proves my TV show was good.
AUDIENCE: Oh no.

— Freddie Campion (@FreddieCampion) January 9, 2017

When you end your awkward speech about mass atrocities in South Sudan by congratulating yourself. pic.twitter.com/LkQgEV8X3A

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) January 9, 2017

I can't believe this story ended up being a commercial for...The Night Manager

— Caity Weaver (@caityweaver) January 9, 2017

"A quick story: I was in South Sudan and everyone said the ONLY thing they care about is my performance in Netflix's The Crown"

— Caity Weaver (@caityweaver) January 9, 2017

That was a long story Tom Hiddleston told to pay himself a compliment. #GoldenGlobes

— Gary Janetti (@GaryJanetti) January 9, 2017

Hiddleston addressed the reaction on his official Facebook page today, admitting that he too thought he had “inelegantly expressed” himself.

“I just wanted to say … I completely agree that my speech at the Golden Globes last night was inelegantly expressed. In truth, I was very nervous, and my words just came out wrong.

“Sincerely, my only intention was to salute the incredible bravery and courage of the men and women who work so tirelessly for UNICEF UK, Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and World Food Programme, and the children of South Sudan, who continue to find hope and joy in the most difficult conditions. I apologise that my nerves got the better of me,” he wrote.

Originally published as Tom Hiddleston apologises as internet mocks his Golden Globes speech