Netflix’s hit series The Crown is facing a wave of backlash after Helena Bonham Carter’s character Princess Margaret made an “offensive” joke.
During one of the show’s scenes, Margaret’s character visits Peebles. While buying a bathing suit for her lover Roddy Llewellyn, she makes a remark about the residents.
“I think we’ve stumbled across an experiment in inbreeding,” she says, according to the Daily Mail.
South Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth spoke out about how U.K. residents have been portrayed on the show.
“It’s common knowledge locally that Princess Margaret probably did meet Roddy Llewellyn in the beautiful Borders and took advantage of the fantastic shops in Peebles to impress him,” he said, per the Daily Mail. “So for once The Crown seems to have got something right—it’s just a shame they blow it with this crass and offensive comment.”
Smith then questioned why Netflix hadn’t filmed the series in “the Borders.” According to the Daily Mail, the footage depicting Peebles was filmed in Rye on the Sussex coast.
“Maybe if Netflix had filmed the series in the Borders they would have found out how wrong the comments are, and the producers could have followed in Princess Margaret’s footsteps by taking full advantage of the great shopping offer in Peebles that goes well beyond swimming trunks,” Smith said.
Netflix declined to comment, the Daily Mail reports.
According to Fox News, Carter said she’s spent a lot of time prepping to play the role of Margaret. “I do everything to prepare,” she said.
Season 3 of The Crown premiered on Nov. 17 on Netflix.
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