New York Times apologises to furious Scottish readers after calling Baby Reindeer star Richard Gadd’s Emmys sporran a ‘black fanny pack’

By Grant Tucker Entertainment Editor[1]

Published: 18:30, 18 September 2024 | Updated: 21:16, 18 September 2024

When Richard Gadd[2] collected his Emmy[3] trophies earlier this week, he looked every inch the proud Scotsman in his tartan kilt.

But one of his traditional accessories confused American audiences, with the The New York Times[4] mistaking Gadd's sporran for a 'black fanny pack'.

The misidentification earned the ire of angry Scottish readers and forced the United States' paper of record to issue an embarrassing correction.

The New York Times wrote that the Baby Reindeer creator 'gallivanted onstage in a blue-and-green tartan kilt -- accessorised with a black fanny pack over black tights -- to accept the top award for best limited series, along with awards for writing and acting.'

Despite the sporran being a focal point of Scottish national dress for centuries, the publication added: 'Gadd's success did create a bit of a wardrobe conundrum: he'll need a bigger fanny pack to carry all that hardware home.'

The New York Times mistook Richard Gadd's sporran for a 'black fanny pack', earning the ire of angry Scottish readers and forcing the United States' paper of record to issue an embarrassing correction.

Pictured: Richard Gadd with his Emmy trophies

Jessica Gunning, Nava Mau, and Richard Gadd (left to right) attend Netflix's Primetime Emmy afterparty at Hilex on September 15, 2024 in Los Angeles, California

A sporran is a leather pouch usually attached to the waist and worn in front of a kilt.

The newspaper also praised Alan Cumming, the Scottish presenter of the US version of The Traitors, which also won an award at Sunday's television awards. They wrote: 'It was a fortuitous night for Scots rocking kilts.'

The American publication was so impressed by the highland outfits that they nominated them among the ceremony's 'Best Fashion Choice'.

But within days of the article's publication, the newspaper was forced to add a correction.

They noted: 'An earlier version of this article misidentified an accessory worn by Richard Gadd. It was a sporran, a pouch traditionally worn with a kilt, not a fanny pack.'

Baby Reindeer, which tells the 'true story' of a comedian's stalking ordeal, won best limited drama at the Emmy awards[5] in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Gadd, 35, the show's creator and star, picked up best writer and best actor awards while Jessica Gunning, 38, who plays stalker Martha, won best supporting actress in a limited series.

Phrases you don't want to use incorrectly while across the pond

By Natasha Anderson

As George Bernard Shaw once observed, England and America are two countries divided by a common language.

Social media, TV, movies, and global travel have blurred language differences, and many people in the US and UK are familiar with bizarre figures of speech from both sides of the pond.

Yet important differences remain...

CLOTHING

The lexicon for clothing can be a bit confusing and if used in the wrong setting may be quite embarrassing.

In Britain, the term 'pants' refers to underwear.

But Americans would use the word to describe everything from jeans, slacks, leggings and joggers.

In the UK it would be more appropriate to say 'trousers'. Also, trousers are not held up by 'suspenders' in Britain, but instead by 'braces'. In British English, 'suspenders' are what Americans call a garter belt.

While Americans dress for 'sweater' weather, Brits will wear a 'jumper' - which can be used to described a sweater or sweatshirt.

Brits also call a jacket called an 'anorak'.

Another term that may puzzle Americans is 'brolly' which refers to an umbrella.

FOOD AND DRINK

Would you like fries with that?

Well, in Britain your burger is accompanied by 'chips' - not fries.

You'd like some potato chips? Those are 'crisps'.

A soft drink or soda? That would be a 'fizzy drink' in Britain.

A soft drink can refer to any nonalcoholic beverage.

Americans refer to all cookie-like treats as 'cookies', but Brits have different terms depending on how the treat is made. In the UK a hard or crisp cookie is called a 'biscuit'. A cookie is a larger, softer, and chewier treat.

In America, a 'biscuit' refers to a buttery, flaky bread pastry.

If a British waiter asks if you'd like 'pudding,' he's referring to dessert in general, not necessarily the soft sweet custard-like treat that Americans love.

Additionally, a 'black pudding' or 'blood pudding' are not dessert at all.

It's sausage.

SLANG

In Britain, when someone says they are feeling 'chuffed', it means they're delighted. As in, 'I'm chuffed to bits that I got those concert tickets'.

If someone says they're 'gutted,' it has nothing to do with fish. They're just bitterly disappointed.

Brits also say 'Cheers' a lot, and not just in the pub.

It's a term for thank you.

So is 'Ta.'

TRAVEL TALK

Americans walk on the 'sidewalk', but Brits say they walk on the 'pavement.'

In Britain, a 'crosswalk' is called a 'zebra crossing' (pronounced zeh-bra, not zee-bra).

A 'highway' in the UK is called a 'motorway' and you park in the 'car park' - not the 'parking lot'.

The hood and the trunk?

To Brits, those would be the 'bonnet' and the 'boot.' The 'windshield' is the 'windscreen,' 'side-view mirrors' are 'wing mirrors,' and the 'stick shift' is the 'gear stick'.

Also, Brits don't 'drive stick', they drive a 'manual' car.

References

1. ^ Grant Tucker Entertainment Editor (www.dailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ Richard Gadd (www.dailymail.co.uk)
3. ^ Emmy (www.dailymail.co.uk)
4. ^ New York Times (www.dailymail.co.uk)
5. ^ won best limited drama at the Emmy awards (www.dailymail.co.uk)