Full Breakdown
Gold Derby Misquotes Outlander Star Caitríona Balfe Over Shotts Comment
5/24/2026, 12:22:08 PM
Misquote and Apology
During a joint interview with co-star Sam Heughan for the U.S. entertainment site Gold Derby, Caitríona Balfe’s remarks about a filming location were edited so that the clip appeared to show her calling the North Lanarkshire town of Shotts her “worst location shoot” and an “armpit.” Gold Derby later removed the video, acknowledged an editing error, and issued a public apology to Balfe, the people of Shotts, and all parties involved.
Background: Outlander Filming in Shotts
Outlander’s 2024 production used sites near Hartwood Hill, close to an abandoned hospital, for scenes set in Shotts. Crew members reported difficulties with a swampy, impenetrable ground, and a source described disruptions by local youths who stole and set fire to a quad bike. The series, which concluded earlier this year, has been credited with boosting tourism across Scotland.
Key Figures & Groups
- Caitríona Balfe – Lead actress (Clare Randall)
- Sam Heughan – Co-star (Jamie Fraser)
- Gold Derby – U.S. entertainment website that edited the interview
- Spotlight Shotts community group – Local organization that voiced concern over the misquote
- BBC Scotland News – Outlet that reported the community’s reaction
- Daily Record – Publication that provided details of the filming challenges
Official Statements & Responses
Gold Derby’s spokesperson said: “We have removed a video featuring Outlander stars Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan. Due to an editing error, Caitríona Balfe was misquoted in the clip.” The company added that it “deeply regrets the error and sincerely apologizes to Caitríona Balfe, the people of Shotts, and everyone involved.” In the unedited transcript, Balfe clarified that she was referring to “a particular place in Shotts… not the town – the little village,” describing an old dump and swamp that made the location “not my favourite place.” Spotlight Shotts told BBC Scotland News that the flippant comment was hurtful to residents.
Criticism & Opposition
Local residents and the community group criticized Gold Derby for the misleading edit, arguing that it unfairly tarnished Shotts’s reputation and reflected a broader issue of careless media editing.
Impact: Local Sentiment and Media Trust
The misquote sparked disappointment among Shotts residents, who feared negative perceptions could affect community pride and tourism. The incident also raised questions about editorial oversight on entertainment platforms, potentially influencing audience trust in future coverage of location shoots.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact wording presented in the edited clip versus the original interview. While the misquoted version labeled Shotts as the “worst location shoot,” the unedited transcript shows Balfe describing only a specific, problematic site within the town. No detailed explanation of how the editing error occurred has been provided, and the Outlander production team has not issued a comment.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We have removed a video featuring Outlander stars Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan. Due to an editing error, Caitriona Balfe was misquoted in the clip.” — Gold Derby spokesperson
- “Gold Derby deeply regrets the error and sincerely apologizes to Caitriona Balfe, the people of Shotts, and everyone involved.” — Gold Derby spokesperson
- “They found an old dump that was also kind of a swamp, and we were there for over a week, and our sets kept getting attacked, and it was not my favourite place.” — Caitríona Balfe (unedited interview)
What’s Next
Gold Derby has posted the unedited transcript and removed the erroneous video. The incident may prompt tighter editorial review for future location-shoot interviews, while Shotts residents continue to monitor media portrayals of their community.
