An American man currently living in the UK has delivered his honest, and very brutal, verdict after taking in the British seaside for the first time. Comedian and actor Russell Hicks, who is originally from California, admitted he “didn’t know beaches could look like that” as he shared his review in an Instagram video.
Posting after a visit to Brighton, he said: “There was no sand – it was just rocks and glass while everybody sat in knitwear crying in the rain.” But his comments prompted a backlash from thousands of British Instagram users. One person said: “You really didn’t have to say you were American.
“We could tell by your ignorant opinions. Britain is a country of beautiful contrast. It takes a special kind of ignorance to not be able to grasp that. Back to California you go little man.”
A second urged Russell: “Please do your homework. Go travel around the UK. As an island do you think we don’t have lots of long beautiful beaches with sand?!”
A third asked: “Why would you expect a British seaside town to look like California? I’m assuming that’s why you made a specific point about being from California? Please travel more.”
While a fourth Instagram user pointed out: “I just went to LA. I have to be honest, I didn’t realise homeless people looked like that. There were no houses, no medical care, and everyone just sat there, unemployed and homeless, crying.”
Russell later expanded on his thoughts, saying: “Obviously I’m talking more about the Southern/South East beaches here (sorry Brighton). What are the best sandy beaches in the UK? Any recommendations ?”
In another clip, the comedian revealed what made him move to the UK. “You have things we don’t have in America,” he said. “Castles, ancient ruins… the oldest thing we have in America right now is Joe Biden!”
Venturing away from Brighton, Russell also took in the north of England where he said: “[the] people get warmer, the weather gets colder”. He continued: “Everyone was so lovely and polite to me – even in Liverpool – though I didn’t speak their language!”
Russell said that upon his return south, he attempted to use what he had learned on his travels north. “I struck up a conversation with a stranger… they stared at me scared and handed me a half-eaten sandwich and said, ‘That’s all I have, sorry’.”
He closed by telling his followers that on his next trip north, he plans to sample a pork pie for the first time.
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