Rupert Everett has taken a swipe at soldiers, branding them “whining wimps”.


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The Shrek star – whose father is a retired major in the British Army – claims young men and women risking their lives fighting on the frontline for their country are “pathetic”.

Everett – who is currently starring in a British TV documentary about 19th century soldier-and-adventurer Sir Richard Burton – added: “The whole point of being in the army is wanting to get killed, wanting to test yourself to the limits.

“In Burton’s day they were itching to get into the fray. Now it is the opposite. They are always whining about the dangers of being killed. Oh my God, they are such wimps! Now you have to fly 15,000ft above the war zone to avoid getting hit.”

Everett has now been slammed by members of the British armed forces for his controversial comments.

A source said: “You have someone here who is totally inexperienced as a soldier speaking as if he has some authority on the matter. He is in no position to do this. It is deeply hurtful.”

A British Army spokesman said: “His comments don’t even deserve a response.”