'Heckling' film critic Armond White expelled from New York Film Critics Circle Movies January 14, 2014 - 2:23PM Last laugh ... 12 Years a Slave director Steve McQueen collects the Golden Globe for best movie drama. Armond White has been expelled from the New York Film Critics Circle after he allegedly heckled Steve McQueen, the director of 12 Years a Slave, at the group's annual awards banquet last week. It is alleged White called McQueen "an embarrassing doorman and garbage man" as he was accepting the critics' award for best director. The outgoing chairman of the Critics Circle, Joshua Rothkopf, apologised to McQueen. McQueen's film won best movie drama at the Golden Globes on Monday and hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler did not hold back from heckling "garbage person" Matt Damon at the awards to lighten the mood over the issue. Shunned ... Critic Armond White denies he heckled director Steve McQueen. The organisation met on Monday and voted to boot the CityArts critic out of the group. In an official statement, the new chairman and critic for The Star-Ledger Stephen Whitty said: "The New York Film Critics Circle deeply regrets any embarrassment caused its guests or honorees by any member's recent actions. Sadly, disciplinary measures had to be taken to prevent any reoccurrence. We apologise again to our guests and look forward to the rest of 2014 and our 80th anniversary. In response to his expulsion White said the circle were "lousy critics and worse human beings. I am relieved of their horrific company," according to The Hollywood Reporter. White disputes the charges, calling them a "barrage of lies" in an email to the Associated Press. Known for his contrarian reviews, White has previously lambasted 12 Years a Slave as "torture porn." White's expulsion comes after a number of controversial incidences involving public heckling at NYFCC functions.