Steve McQueen heckled as 'garbage man' at New York Film Critics Circle Awards

McQueen was heckled as he received the award for Best Director

Stve McQueen at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards 2013 (Getty)

Steve McQueen was labelled a “garbage man” and an “embarrassing doorman” by a heckler at the New York Film Critics Circle last night.

The director, who won the Best Director award for 12 Years A Slave, had just picked up his prize when the interruption broke out.

Controversial critic Armond White, an editor for New York’s City Arts, reportedly shouted from his table at the back of the room: “ You’re an embarrassing doorman and garbage man. F*** you. Kiss my ass,” according to Variety.

When McQueen thanked the critics group for the award, which has previously been won by John Ford and Woody Allen, White reportedly hissed “pulease”.

White, an African American, is known for disliking popular films and wrote a scathing review of McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave last October.

In his review, he said McQueen had made “the most unpleasant American movie since William Friedkin’s 1973 The Exorcist”.

New York CityArts critic Armond White, who is well known for his contrarian film reviews (Getty Images)

He wrote: “That's right, 12 Years a Slave belongs to the torture porn genre with Hostel, The Human Centipede and the Saw franchise but it is being sold (and mistaken) as part of the recent spate of movies that pretend 'a conversation about race'. The only conversation this film inspires would contain howls of discomfort."

But McQueen is not the first star to be on the receiving end of White’s jibes.

In 2011, the critic hosted the ceremony and insulted Annette Bening and Michelle Williams. In 2012, he is also said to have jeered at Robert De Niro and Viola Davis as they were speaking on-stage.

At the New York Film Critics Circle ceremony last night, American Hustle won Best Picture and Best Screenplay, with its star Jennifer Lawrence picking up Best Supporting Actress.

Cate Blanchett won Best Actress for her leading role in Blue Jasmine, while All is Lost’s Robert Redford picked up the Best Actor award.

The New York Film Critics Circle has since issued a statement of apology to McQueen.

Video: 12 Years a Slave - Interview with Steve McQueen