British actor and comedian <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/john-cleese" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Cleese</a> said in a recent interview that people should not be afraid to publicly state that some cultures are superior to others.
Cleese, who made the remarks during an interview with a local magazine, <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13374615/John-Cleese-says-Britons-not-frightened-say-cultures-superior-wrong-Muslims-want-sharia-law-enforced-UK.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;Race doesn&#8217;t matter, but culture does.&#8221;
&#8220;I think that some cultures are superior to others, and we should not be frightened to say so,&#8221; he <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13374615/John-Cleese-says-Britons-not-frightened-say-cultures-superior-wrong-Muslims-want-sharia-law-enforced-UK.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;A society that goes in for female genital mutilation is abhorrent, and I happen to think that if people come to live in Britain, they should accept and adhere to our values.&#8221;
&#8220;I understand that some 20 percent of Muslims in the U.K. would like to see Sharia law, and I believe that&#8217;s wrong,&#8221; he added.
He also defended a remark from several years ago that angered leftists when he said that &#8220;London was not really an English city any more.&#8221;
&#8220;That was not a racist remark,&#8221; he noted.
Cleese also garnered news headlines this week when he remarked about his comedy ahead of the stage adaptation of his “Fawlty Towers” show.
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1700760801843000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2PQrVSrJfhxNb4LcARqniG">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
The play is based on three episodes of a multi-season sitcom that he wrote in 1975. One of the episodes was removed by UKTV because it contained “racial slurs,” Variety <a href="https://variety.com/2024/theater/global/fawlty-towers-john-cleese-stage-play-racial-slurs-1235989568/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
The episode was later reinstated after he attacked the decision and blasted those who believe in false revisionist history.
“Those scenes where the Major used a couple of words you can’t use now, racial slurs they would come under, we took them out,” he said. “There’s always a problem with comedy that you deal with the literal-minded. Whenever you’re doing comedy, you’re up against the literal-minded and the literal-minded don’t understand irony. And that means if you take them seriously, you get rid of a lot of comedy. Because literal-minded people don’t understand metaphor, irony, or comic exaggeration. People who are not literal-minded can see there’s various different interpretations, depending on different contexts.”

“Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide” By John Cleese – Photocall

John Cleese: People Shouldn’t Be Scared To Acknowledge ‘Some Cultures Are Superior To Others’

General

John Cleese

Radical Islam

U.K.

World

“Monty Python” alumnus <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/monty-python-alum-john-cleese-slams-wokes-and-the-current-thrill-of-being-offended">John Cleese</a> blasted the current cancel culture and said when a person sets &#8220;out to get someone fired … that&#8217;s very totalitarian.&#8221;
Speaking to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfDBTpAzV4U">Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression group’s</a> Greg Lukianoff, the host asked the legendary comedian about the evolution of cancel culture, from when audiences freaked out over topics in his 1979 film “The Life of Brian” to now. 
“What I experienced [then] was people who were upset and offended by things,” the 84-year-old comedian said. “And once or twice, I’ve done things that afterwards I felt that I’ve crossed the line and thought I shouldn’t have done that. But people would get upset and complain to the BBC or something like that.”
“Or they might get up and walk out of the show,” he added. “The thing about Cancel Culture is, it seems to be very organized. And it’s not just protest. It’s trying to get people fired. I don’t mind people protesting, that’s fine. But if you set out to get someone fired … that’s very totalitarian.”
“The enemy of creativity is interruption,” Cleese continued. “And interruptions can come from inside, as well as outside. And if the moment you think of something you think, ‘Ooh, will that offend someone?,’ you’ve interrupted yourself and it will stop the creative flow.”
The “A Fish Called Wanda” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/monty-python-alum-goes-viral-after-tweeting-about-unfair-advantage-biological-men-have-in-womens-sports">star</a> said “all moments” in his life “that have been important in forming” his personality &#8220;came when I suddenly had a realization that something I believed wasn’t the case.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
John Cleese on Cancel Culture: An ‘Organized … Totalitarian’ Movement <a href="https://t.co/HHPkkaIEGU">https://t.co/HHPkkaIEGU</a>
— MRC NewsBusters (@newsbusters) <a href="https://twitter.com/newsbusters/status/1782088168923160972?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
He said none of that would’ve happened if he had to deal with people around him “saying you mustn’t think like that.” Cleese said that you’ve got to “ignore the people who are trying to stop you from learning something new.”
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1700760801843000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2PQrVSrJfhxNb4LcARqniG">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
“A lot of people are very frightened of getting fired, and that’s awful, getting fired,” he added. “There’s good and bad in all of us, and the moment you think you’re more perfect than you are, then that’s trouble. … And that’s why all this virtue signaling is so foolish now … they also need to know they have a nasty streak, too, because we all have.”
The famed British comedian has been very outspoken in the past about cancel culture, labeling the “wokes” the new “authoritarians,” as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/beware-the-wokes-monty-python-alum-defends-new-show-tackling-cancel-culture-and-new-authoritarians">previously reported</a>.
“Like all people who believe that are purer than they actually are, they are authoritarians,” Cleese previously <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCleese/status/1579397566655262720?s=20&amp;t=uUR-qN7yGJAx40uWiVuwFA">tweeted</a>. “Which is why all the best comedians make fun of them.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/beware-the-wokes-monty-python-alum-defends-new-show-tackling-cancel-culture-and-new-authoritarians">&#8216;Beware The &#8216;Wokes&#8221; : &#8216;Monty Python&#8217; Alum Defends New Show Tackling &#8216;Cancel Culture&#8217; And New &#8216;Authoritarians&#8217;</a>

Pendulum Summit In Dublin – Day 2

‘Totalitarian’: ‘Monty Python’ Star John Cleese Blasts Cancel Culture

‘Totalitarian’: 'Monty Python’ Star John Cleese Blasts Cancel Culture

Cancel Culture

Celebrities

Comedy

Entertainment

Wokeness

&#8220;Monty Python&#8221; alumnus John Cleese took some serious backlash for an X post in which he appeared to claim that Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler was &#8220;preferable&#8221; to former President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a>.
Cleese laid out the post by first listing &#8220;five ways&#8221; that Hitler was &#8220;preferable&#8221; — and came up with six. But when he attempted to follow that with the reasons Trump was &#8220;preferable,&#8221; he could apparently only think of two.
&#8220;Five ways that Hitler was preferable to Trump
<ol>
<li>He fought for his country</li>
<li>He never used a teleprompter</li>
<li>He was nice to dogs</li>
<li>He wrote his own books</li>
<li>He never played golf</li>
<li>He wasn&#8217;t a big fat slob</li>
</ol>
Five ways Trump is preferable to Hitler
<ol>
<li>He doesn&#8217;t practice genocide</li>
<li>He has nicer hair</li>
<li></li>
<li></li>
<li>&#8230;&#8221;</li>
</ol>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Five ways that Hitler was preferable to Trump
1. He fought for his country 2. He never used a teleprompter 3. He was nice to dogs 4. He wrote his own books 5. He never played golf 6. He wasn&#39;t a big fat slob
Five ways Trump is preferable to Hitler
1. He doesn&#39;t practice…
&mdash; John Cleese (@JohnCleese) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCleese/status/1739815081951850568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Good lord, what in the Life of Brian is this stupidity?&#8221; Aaron Worthing asked in response. &#8220;And it’s worth noting Trump is preferable because, in addition to your points: 3. He didn’t become a dictator 4. His Supreme Court appointments strengthened freedom of expression and the right to bear arms—two important bulwarks of our democracy 5. He made historic strides in Middle East peace and kept Putin out of Ukraine. I’ll be the first to admit he has flaws but this is ridiculous.&#8221;
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1700760801843000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2PQrVSrJfhxNb4LcARqniG">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Good lord, what in the Life of Brian is this stupidity?
And it’s worth noting Trump is preferable because, in addition to your points:
3. He didn’t become a dictator 4. His Supreme Court appointments strengthened freedom of expression and the right to bear arms—two important… <a href="https://t.co/utXj4eiEWW">https://t.co/utXj4eiEWW</a>
&mdash; (((Aaron Walker))) (@AaronWorthing) <a href="https://twitter.com/AaronWorthing/status/1739935563082268684?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Dumbest, most tone-deaf and deranged post of the year goes to &#8230;&#8221; Joe Concha added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Dumbest, most tone-deaf and deranged post of the year goes to&#8230; <a href="https://t.co/jb9sPLndf7">https://t.co/jb9sPLndf7</a>
&mdash; Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeConchaTV/status/1740001090601627949?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;You do not … under any circumstances … have to give it to Hitler,&#8221; another <a href="https://twitter.com/RobProvince/status/1739828413769142537" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a>.
Several pointed out the fact that Cleese — who actually parodied Hitler during his &#8220;Monty Python&#8221; days — might have been joking.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Not much Fun in Stalingrad - Monty Python&#039;s Flying Circus - S01E12" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cYBugb7h5AQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
If that was the case, it seems the joke fell flat:
&#8220;Is he trying to say he finds Hitler preferable? Because I really don’t think it matters about preferable qualities. Only 1 was responsible for a Holocaust,&#8221; one replied.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Is he trying to say he finds Hitler preferable? Because I really don’t think it matters about preferable qualities. Only 1 was responsible for a Holocaust. <a href="https://t.co/Aos932QLUs">https://t.co/Aos932QLUs</a>
&mdash; leilani dowding 🌸🚜 ☮️ (@LeilaniDowding) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeilaniDowding/status/1740106774391460107?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Looking for the humor here,&#8221; another said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Looking for the humor here. <a href="https://t.co/OVcXrltef4">pic.twitter.com/OVcXrltef4</a>
&mdash; Oligarch Kabuki (@HouseCracka) <a href="https://twitter.com/HouseCracka/status/1739988024182907092?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Noticed you didn’t write this in German, you’re welcome,&#8221; another replied.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Noticed you didn’t write this in German, you’re welcome
&mdash; Dr. Richard Harambe (@Richard_Harambe) <a href="https://twitter.com/Richard_Harambe/status/1739829324025352482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;

‘Monty Python’ Alum Savaged For Saying Hitler Was ‘Preferable’ To Trump

'Monty Python' Alum Savaged For Saying Hitler Was 'Preferable' To Trump

Adolf Hitler

Donald Trump

Politics

Monty Python star John Cleese says that, contrary to reports, he won&#8217;t cut a scene out of the stage version of &#8220;Life of Brian&#8221; that woke critics frowned upon.
“A few days ago I spoke to an audience outside London,&#8221; Cleese wrote on Twitter. &#8220;I told them I was adapting the Life of Brian so that we could do it as a stage show (NOT a musical). I said that we’d had a table-reading of the latest draft in NYC a year ago and that all the actors – several of them Tony winners – had advised me strongly to cut the Loretta scene. I have, of course, no intention of doing so.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
A recent example of this misreporting !
A few days ago I spoke to an audience outside London. I told them I was adapting the Life of Brian so that we could do it as a stage show ( NOT a musical ). I said that we&#39;d had a table-reading of the latest draft in NYC a year ago&#8230;(tbc) <a href="https://t.co/VPWJGdUZtJ">https://t.co/VPWJGdUZtJ</a>
&mdash; John Cleese (@JohnCleese) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCleese/status/1661669827595890689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
..and that all the actors &#8211; several of them Tony winners &#8211; had advised me strongly to cut the Loretta scene. 
I have, of course, no intention of doing so
So someone in the audience had called a journalist and misreported me. Amazingly none of the British media called to check
&mdash; John Cleese (@JohnCleese) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCleese/status/1661672993657962497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
According to the erroneous reports, Cleese was set to cut a scene from his stage revival of the irreverent comedy during which &#8220;Stan&#8221; declares he wants to be a woman named &#8220;Loretta&#8221; and have babies.
&#8220;According to Cleese, the ‘Loretta’ scene, in which a male member of the People’s Front of Judea demands his right to have babies, raised eyebrows at a read-through in New York last year,&#8221; Spiked <a href="https://www.spiked-online.com/2023/05/24/the-neutering-of-monty-python/">reported</a> last Wednesday. “‘We love the script, but you can’t do that stuff about Loretta nowadays,&#8217; the Americans told Cleese.&#8221;
&#8220;That was what was so surprising,&#8221; Cleese wrote in response. &#8220;These were absolutely top-class Broadway performers and they were adamant that we would not get away with doing the scene in NYC!&#8221;
&#8220;I asked them &#8216;Are Python fans not going to come because we&#8217;re doing a scene they&#8217;ve been laughing at for 40 years?'&#8221; he <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCleese/status/1661680748020080640">wrote</a>.
&#8220;Producers tend to be scaredy-cats, and they don&#8217;t remember that the protests in NYC when &#8216;Brian&#8217; was released meant we never needed to do publicity!!&#8221; Cleese <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCleese/status/1661681326276190208">added</a>.
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1685202016677000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3BHv9qMQC3OwHMBCkGZXpF">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
The scene is a brilliant bit of surreal comedy in which Stan declares &#8220;it’s every man’s right to have babies if he wants them.&#8221;
In the scene, Stan and three others do a rat-a-tat-tat exchange that made Monty Python famous. For the record, Cleese plays Reg, Michael Palin is Francis, Sue Jones-Davies plays Judith, and Eric Idle plays Stan. Just enjoy the timing:
<blockquote>Francis: Why you always on about women, Stan?
Stan: I want to be one.
Reg: What?
Stan: I want to be a woman. From now on, I want you all to call me Loretta.
Reg: What?
Stan: It&#8217;s my right as a man.
Judith: Why do you want to be Loretta, Stan?
Stan: I want to have babies.
Reg: You want to have babies?!
Stan: It&#8217;s every man&#8217;s right to have babies if he wants them.
Reg: But you can&#8217;t have babies!
Stan: Don&#8217;t you oppress me.
Reg: I&#8217;m not oppressing you, Stan. You haven&#8217;t got a womb. Where&#8217;s the fetus going to gestate? You gonna keep it in a box?
Judith: Here, I&#8217;ve got an idea. Suppose you agree that he can&#8217;t actually have babies not having a womb, which is nobody&#8217;s fault, not even the Romans, but that he can have the right to have babies.
Francis: Good idea, Judith. We shall fight the oppressors for your right to have babies, brother — sister. Sorry.
Reg: What&#8217;s the point? What&#8217;s the point of fighting his right to have babies when he can&#8217;t have babies?
Francis: It is symbolic of our struggle against oppression.
Reg: Symbolic of his struggle against reality.</blockquote>
Cleese has grumbled before about the plight of the modern comedian. When asked in July of 2022 if they still have the unfettered freedom to be funny, he said, &#8220;No. I think it&#8217;s particularly worrying at the moment because you can only create in an atmosphere of freedom where you&#8217;re not checking everything you say critically before you move on.&#8221;
“A lot of comedians now are sitting there and when they think of something, they say something like, &#8216;Can I get away with it? I don&#8217;t think so. So and so got into trouble, and he said that, oh, she said that.&#8217; You see what I mean? And that&#8217;s the death of creativity,&#8221; Cleese said.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
Joseph Curl has covered politics for 35 years, including 12 years as White House correspondent for a national newspaper. He was also the a.m. editor of the Drudge Report for four years. Send tips to josephcurl@dailywire.com and follow him on Twitter @josephcurl.

John Cleese Says He Won’t Cut Scene From ‘Life Of Brian’ That The Woke Hate

John Cleese Says He Won't Cut Scene From ‘Life Of Brian’ That The Woke Hate

Woke Culture

In &#8220;Monty Python and the Holy Grail,&#8221; a filthy peasant who is being throttled by King Arthur at the time, yells: &#8220;Come and see the violence inherent in the system. Help! Help! I’m being repressed!&#8221;
So it is with another of the British comedy troupe&#8217;s movies, &#8220;Monty Python’s Life of Brian.&#8221;
Comedian John Cleese revealed last week that a scene for his revival of the irreverent stage show, during which &#8220;Stan&#8221; declares he wants to be a woman named &#8220;Loretta&#8221; and have babies, is set to be cut from the play &#8212; for woke reasons.
&#8220;According to Cleese, the ‘Loretta’ scene, in which a male member of the People’s Front of Judea demands his right to have babies, raised eyebrows at a read-through in New York last year,&#8221; Spiked <a href="https://www.spiked-online.com/2023/05/24/the-neutering-of-monty-python/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on Wednesday. “‘We love the script, but you can’t do that stuff about Loretta nowadays,&#8217; the Americans told Cleese.&#8221;
The scene is a brilliant bit of surreal comedy in which Stan declares &#8220;it’s every man’s right to have babies if he wants them.&#8221;
In the scene, Stan and three others do a rat-a-tat-tat exchange that made Monty Python famous. For the record, Cleese plays Reg, Michael Palin is Francis, Sue Jones-Davies plays Judith, and Eric Idle plays Stan. Just enjoy the timing:
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-11618">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
<blockquote>Judith: I do feel, Reg, that any anti-imperialist group like ours must reflect such a divergence of interests within its power base.
Reg: Agree. Francis?
Francis: Yeah, I think Judith&#8217;s point of view is very valid, Reg. Provided the movement never forgets that it is the unalienable right of every man  &#8212;
Stan: Or woman.
Francis: Or woman to rid himself &#8212;
Stan: Or herself.
Francis: Or herself.
Reg: Agreed.
Francis: Thank you, brother.
Stan: Or sister.
Francis: Or sister. Where was I?
Reg: I think you finished.
Francis: Oh, all right.
Reg: Furthermore, it is the birthright of every man &#8212;
Stan: Or woman.
Reg: Why don&#8217;t you shut up about women, Stan, you&#8217;re putting us off.
Stan: Women have a perfect right to play a part in our movement, Reg.
Francis: Why you always on about women, Stan?
Stan: I want to be one.
Reg: What?
Stan: I want to be a woman. From now on, I want you all to call me Loretta.
Reg: What?
Stan: It&#8217;s my right as a man.
Judith: Why do you want to be Loretta, Stan?
Stan: I want to have babies.
Reg: You want to have babies?!
Stan: It&#8217;s every man&#8217;s right to have babies if he wants them.
Reg: But you can&#8217;t have babies!
Stan: Don&#8217;t you oppress me.
Reg: I&#8217;m not oppressing you, Stan. You haven&#8217;t got a womb. Where&#8217;s the fetus going to gestate? You gonna keep it in a box?
Judith: Here, I&#8217;ve got an idea. Suppose you agree that he can&#8217;t actually have babies not having a womb, which is nobody&#8217;s fault, not even the Romans, but that he can have the right to have babies.
Francis: Good idea, Judith. We shall fight the oppressors for your right to have babies, brother &#8212; sister. Sorry.
Reg: What&#8217;s the point? What&#8217;s the point of fighting his right to have babies when he can&#8217;t have babies?
Francis: It is symbolic of our struggle against oppression.
Reg: Symbolic of his struggle against reality.</blockquote>
When &#8220;Life of Brian&#8221; &#8212; listed in the IMDB&#8217;s top 250 movies &#8212; came out in 1979, it faced an onslaught from the Catholic Church. But that might be a simple foe when weighed against the LGBTQ+ community.
Cleese has grumbled before about the plight of the modern comedian. When asked in July of 2022 if they still have the unfettered freedom to be funny, he said, &#8220;No. I think it&#8217;s particularly worrying at the moment because you can only create in an atmosphere of freedom where you&#8217;re not checking everything you say critically before you move on.&#8221;
“A lot of comedians now are sitting there and when they think of something, they say something like, &#8216;Can I get away with it? I don&#8217;t think so. So and so got into trouble, and he said that, oh, she said that.&#8217; You see what I mean? And that&#8217;s the death of creativity,&#8221; Cleese said.
This new onslaught will be tantamount to the Spanish Inquisition. And as the boys of Monty Python have always said: “Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Monty Python&#039;s Life of Brian - Loretta - [1080p] [Subtitles]" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jlo7YZW8vPA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
Joseph Curl has covered politics for 35 years, including 12 years as White House correspondent for a national newspaper. He was also the a.m. editor of the Drudge Report for four years. Send tips to josephcurl@dailywire.com and follow him on Twitter @josephcurl.

Das Leben Des Brian, 1970Er, 1970S, Film, Humor, Monty Python’S Life Of Brian, Satire, Humour

Monty Python’s ‘Life of Brian’ Stage Revival Forced To Remove Jokes About Man Who Wants To Be A Woman, Have Babies

 Monty Python's 'Life of Brian' Stage Revival Forced To Remove Jokes About Man Who Wants To Be A Woman, Have Babies

Social Issues

U.S.

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hollywood" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hollywood</a> reacted to the news Wednesday of the death of Tina Turner, calling her &#8220;iconic,&#8221; &#8220;legendary,&#8221; and so much more.
The official Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/tinaturner/status/1661463646139023362?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">account</a> for the legendary singer tweeted, &#8220;It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner.” The singer battled health issues in recent years, including intestinal cancer, a stroke, and needing a kidney transplant, <a href="https://people.com/music/tina-turner-dead/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People magazine</a> reported. She died &#8220;peacefully&#8221; at her home near Zurich in Switzerland after a long illness, publicist Bernard Doherty confirmed.
&#8220;With her music and boundless passion for life, she enchanted fans worldwide and inspired future stars,&#8221; the message added. &#8220;We say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us her greatest work; her music. Tina, we will miss you dearly.&#8221;
Shortly after the news broke, celebrities like Diana Ross, Tom Jones, Mariah Carey, and others took to social media share their memories of the &#8220;Rock and Roll Hall of Fame&#8221; singer.
&#8220;Shocked. Saddened. Sending condolences to Tina Turner&#8217;s family and loved ones,&#8221; Ross tweeted, along with a photo of the two at an event.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Shocked. Saddened. Sending condolences to Tina Turner’s family and loved ones. <a href="https://t.co/FGlQfjxaGh">pic.twitter.com/FGlQfjxaGh</a>
&mdash; Ms. Ross (@DianaRoss) <a href="https://twitter.com/DianaRoss/status/1661462242108538892?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
82-year-old Jones wrote, &#8220;Tina, an incredible woman, a genuine singer, a one of a kind talent, I am honored to have known her. RIP Tina.&#8221;
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-11618">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Tina, an incredible woman, a genuine singer, a one of a kind talent, I am honoured to have known her. RIP Tina <a href="https://t.co/70iceQjLxm">pic.twitter.com/70iceQjLxm</a>
&mdash; Tom Jones (@RealSirTomJones) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealSirTomJones/status/1661464835987501061?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;The words legendary, iconic, diva, and superstar are often overused and yet Tina Turner embodies them all and so many more &#8211; an incredible performer, musician and trailblazer,&#8221; 54-year-old Carey wrote. &#8220;To me, she will always be a survivor and an inspiration to women everywhere. Her music will continue to inspire generations to come. Rest in Peace, Queen.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The words legendary, iconic, diva, and superstar are often overused and yet Tina Turner embodies them all and so many more &#8211; an incredible performer, musician and trailblazer. To me, she will always be a survivor and an inspiration to women everywhere. Her music will continue to… <a href="https://t.co/ur7djmFHnW">pic.twitter.com/ur7djmFHnW</a>
&mdash; Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) <a href="https://twitter.com/MariahCarey/status/1661481830162345994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Podcast host Megyn Kelly tweeted that &#8220;it doesn&#8217;t seem possible&#8221; Turner was gone. &#8220;She seemed like too strong a life force. She overcame…everything. Embodied strength, resilience, beauty, sass, warmth, dignity, TALENT! Along w/so many, I will treasure her music &amp; legacy forever.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Tina Turner, dead at 83 &#8211; it doesn’t seem possible. She seemed like too strong a life force. She overcame…everything. Embodied strength, resilience, beauty, sass, warmth, dignity, TALENT! Along w/so many, I will treasure her music &amp; legacy forever.
&mdash; Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/megynkelly/status/1661462461524983811?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Singer John Fogerty said, &#8220;So deeply sad to hear about Tina Turner&#8217;s passing… I loved her version of Proud Mary! It was different and fantastic. I was also so happy because she chose my song and it was her breakthrough record.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
So deeply sad to hear about Tina Turner&#39;s passing… I loved her version of Proud Mary! It was different and fantastic. I was also so happy because she chose my song and it was her breakthrough record. <a href="https://t.co/pH1Qt8u25Y">pic.twitter.com/pH1Qt8u25Y</a>
&mdash; John Fogerty (@John_Fogerty) <a href="https://twitter.com/John_Fogerty/status/1661466818903523339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Singer/songwriter Deborah Harry, aka Blondie, wrote, &#8220;I was a benefactor of the energy, creativity and talents of Tina Turner. A woman who started in rural Nutbush, TN cotton fields and worked her way to the very top. Tina was a great inspiration to me when I was starting out and remains so to this day. Love you Tina. RIP.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
&quot;I was a benefactor of the energy, creativity and talents of Tina Turner. A woman who started in rural Nutbush, TN cotton fields and worked her way to the very top. Tina was a great inspiration to me when I was starting out and remains so to this day. Love you Tina. RIP.” —DH <a href="https://t.co/2sqg0biujc">pic.twitter.com/2sqg0biujc</a>
&mdash; Debbie Harry/BLONDIE (@BlondieOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlondieOfficial/status/1661463750451294211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Rocker Mick Jagger shared a series of snaps, referring to Turner as a wonderful friend, &#8220;I&#8217;m so saddened by the passing of my wonderful friend Tina Turner. She was truly an enormously talented performer and singer. She was inspiring, warm, funny and generous. She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I’m so saddened by the passing of my wonderful friend Tina Turner. She was truly an enormously talented performer and singer. She was inspiring, warm, funny and generous. She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her. <a href="https://t.co/TkG5VrdxXO">pic.twitter.com/TkG5VrdxXO</a>
&mdash; Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) <a href="https://twitter.com/MickJagger/status/1661459867876356101?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Star Wars&#8221; franchise star Mark Hamill wrote simply, &#8220;Rest in Power, Queen.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Rest in Power, Queen. 💔 <a href="https://t.co/QLPgeWfcNH">pic.twitter.com/QLPgeWfcNH</a>
&mdash; Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkHamill/status/1661463603940327426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
While &#8220;Monty Python&#8221; alum John Cleese tweeted a clip of him and Turner on stage and wrote, &#8220;Very sad to hear about the passing of Tina Turner. Her talent was beyond measure.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Very sad to hear about the passing of Tina Turner. Her talent was beyond measure. <a href="https://t.co/suRy2ytY9M">pic.twitter.com/suRy2ytY9M</a>
&mdash; John Cleese (@JohnCleese) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCleese/status/1661463692347867138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
A private funeral ceremony will be &#8220;attended by close friends and family. Please respect the privacy of her family at this difficult time,&#8221; a statement from Turner&#8217;s publicist added.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/singer-tina-turner-dead-at-83" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Legendary Singer Tina Turner Dead At 83</a>

Tina Turner

Hollywood Pays Tribute, Reacts To News Of ‘Queen Of Rock’ n Roll’ Tina Turner’s Death At 83

Hollywood Pays Tribute, Reacts To News Of 'Queen Of Rock' n Roll' Tina Turner's Death At 83 

Death

Hollywood

Mark Hamill

Megyn Kelly

Music

Rock and Roll

Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young crushed their rebel brands by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bruce-springsteen-fans-furious-as-concert-tickets-explode-under-greedy-pricing-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bleeding ticket holders dry</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/joe-rogan-responds-to-neil-young-sings-his-music-im-a-huge-neil-young-fan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">abandoning free speech</a>, respectively.
Not John Cleese.
The 83-year-old comic is as funny, and feisty as ever, skewering uptight scolds and defending his work against the woke revolution. Few voices are as strong, and unrelenting against cancel culture.
He’s older and grayer, but his wit and wisdom appear untouched by time (and the pressure to conform to modern mores).
Fans may know him best for his decades of work in Monty Python, but his comedy career began early and stretches from iconic movies (“A Fish Called Wanda”) to legendary sitcoms (“Fawlty Towers”).
His comedy career kicked off Clifton College where he was studying law at the time. He later joined Cambridge University’s Footlights Club comedy troupe before snagging a writing gig for BBC radio mere days before his planned law career began. 
Wise move.
His college days had one other benefit. He met future Python colleague Graham Chapman at Cambridge University.
Cleese stayed busy post-graduation, penning material for British superstars like David Frost and Peter Sellers.
He eventually joined Chapman and cutups Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam to form Monty Python, an anarchic group of comics willing to try almost anything to make audiences howl. The TV troupe’s “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” debuted on October 5, 1969, on the BBC.
<div id="attachment_544521" style="width: 852px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-544521" class="size-large wp-image-544521" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-74284435-842x576.jpg" alt="" width="842" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-74284435-842x576.jpg 842w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-74284435-300x205.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-74284435-768x526.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-74284435-1536x1051.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-74284435-2048x1402.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 842px) 100vw, 842px" />Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images</div>
The show, smart and silly in outrageous doses, later reached American viewers via PBS stations, furthering the group’s global reach. Skits like the “Ministry of Silly Walks” to the iconic “Dead Parrot” captured the show’s manic, unpredictable glee.
The show lasted four seasons (three with Cleese), but the British star’s career was far from over. He eventually created “Fawlty Towers,” a hilarious sitcom featuring Cleese as a frazzled innkeeper.
The series lasted just 12 episodes (six in 1975, another six in 1979), but it became a comic institution.
He returned over and again to his Python mates, their work graduating to the big screen with impressive results. Their cinematic debut, 1975’s “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” stands as their masterwork, but subsequent projects like “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/monty-python-clip-mocking-trans-ideology-goes-viral-40-years-ahead-of-their-time">Life of Brian</a>” (1979) and “Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life” (1983) have their moments, too.
<div id="attachment_544523" style="width: 726px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-544523" class="size-large wp-image-544523" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1262808377-716x576.jpg" alt="Monty Python and The Holy Grail" width="716" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1262808377-716x576.jpg 716w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1262808377-300x241.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1262808377-768x618.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1262808377-1536x1236.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1262808377-2048x1648.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 716px) 100vw, 716px" />Photo by FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images</div>
The big screen suited Cleese, who worked frequently in comic projects over the past few decades, even those that didn’t warrant his gifts (2019’s “Arctic Dogs,” anyone?). His notable films include 1981’s “Time Bandits,” 1985’s “Silverado” and appearances in the first two “Harry Potter” films as Nearly Headless Nick, a comical ghost.
For many, his finest film remains 1988’s “A Fish Called Wanda.” Cleese wrote the screenplay over an <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/07/the-oral-history-of-a-fish-called-wanda" target="_blank" rel="noopener">extended period to get the characters and story just right</a>. The comedy stars Cleese as Archie Leach (Cary Grant’s real name), a barrister who falls for a jewel thief (Jamie Lee Curtis) intertwined with two double-crossing lovers. Python alum Palin joined the fray as the stammering Ken, the kindest-hearted member of the quartet.
Co-star Kevin Kline earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for playing the wily Otto, but the quartet reunited with diminished results for 1997’s “Fierce Creatures.”
Cleese has no intentions of slowing down in his ’80s, working steadily as a character actor and voice artist. His robust <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000092/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IMDB.com page</a> boasts nine new projects on the way.
His biggest late-career role, though, pays nothing and engenders plenty of outrage. He’s the voice of reason in an unreasonable age, defending comedy and free speech with humor and a heavy heart.
It’s a fight that shouldn’t have to be waged.
Still, few artists have spoken out against the woke overreach as passionately as Cleese. Long before Joe Rogan blazed a free speech path, Cleese stood tall in defense of humor. It’s just jokes, Cleese cries, understanding the ramifications of comics who can’t say what they think.
He told Bill Maher in 2015 why political incorrectness, the pre-cursor to the more insidious “woke,” is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCj6YNIpqmA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“so awful.”</a>
“It starts out as a halfway decent idea, and then it goes completely wrong … if you make jokes about people who are going to kill you, there is a tendency to hold back a little.”
Cleese wouldn’t let the issue go, saying in 2016 he <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2016/02/02/john-cleese-will-avoid-colleges-he-says-theyre-too-politically-correct-for-comedy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">avoids college campuses</a> due to their suffocating political correctness.
In 2020, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-john-cleese/cancel-culture-takes-the-fun-out-of-life-says-comedian-john-cleese-idUSKCN24M2QV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he savaged the BBC</a> for briefly removing a “Fawlty Towers” episode mocking Germans.
“Everything humorous is critical. If you have someone who is perfectly kind and intelligent and flexible and who always behaves appropriately, they’re not funny. Funniness is about people who don’t do that, like Trump.”
He even spoke out against <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/monty-python-alum-goes-viral-after-tweeting-about-unfair-advantage-biological-men-have-in-womens-sports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trans female athletes competing against biological women</a> in competitive sports, a stance guaranteed to enrage the modern Left.
<div id="attachment_544529" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-544529" class="size-large wp-image-544529" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1229287083-scaled-e1687806447293.jpg" alt="John Cleese speaking in Toronto." width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1229287083-scaled-e1687806447293.jpg 1200w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1229287083-scaled-e1687806447293-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1229287083-scaled-e1687806447293-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/05/GettyImages-1229287083-scaled-e1687806447293-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Photo by Shawn Goldberg/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images</div>
Now, he’s using his free speech brand to power new projects.
Last year, he announced <a href="https://deadline.com/2022/10/monty-python-john-cleese-joins-gb-news-free-speech-show-1235139683/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he’s teaming with GB News</a>, a Right-leaning English platform, to create a show about free speech alongside Andrew Doyle, a fellow free speech warrior and the mind behind Titania McGrath, Twitter’s faux social justice warrior. He also plans to reboot “Fawlty Towers,” a project likely to embrace his ability to tell jokes on his terms without censorship or a net.
Cleese is no conservative. He loathes President Trump and has lashed out against the American South over the years.
He believes in comedy and the very Western notion that free speech matters. That makes him a rebel in 2023 and a man who hasn’t lost his principles over 50+ years in the comedy trenches.
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="http://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News&#8217; Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://twitter.com/HollywoodInToto?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@HollywoodInToto</a>. 
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

John Cleese With Monty Python And The Holy Grail at The Santander Performing Arts Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. Photo by Natalie Kolb 1/15/2017

He’s No Conservative, But John Cleese Is A Passionate Defender Of Free Speech

He's No Conservative, But John Cleese Is A Passionate Defender Of Free Speech

Great Britain

Readers Pass

&#8220;Monty Python&#8221; actor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/john-cleese" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Cleese</a> has gone viral after he tweeted about the &#8220;unfair advantage&#8221; biological males have in women&#8217;s sports after a transgender athlete recently won in the female category of a cycling race in the U.K.
The 83-year-old comedian didn&#8217;t hold back when he <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCleese/status/1652769812383166476?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">responded</a> to a tweet from British journalist Martin Daubney that read, &#8220;Bloke [Male cyclist Cara (Cameron) Dixon] who pretends to be a woman thrashes nearest actual female cyclist by ONE HOUR &#8211; yet would have been 19th in the men&#8217;s race, where he belongs. It&#8217;s time to end the cruel, unfair charade of biological men in women&#8217;s sports! [SaveWomensSports].&#8221;
&#8220;Biological men in women&#8217;s sports have an unfair advantage,&#8221; Cleese tweeted to his 5.6 million followers. At the time of this publication, the tweet has been viewed more than one million times.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Biological men in women&#39;s sports have an unfair advantage <a href="https://t.co/Aq1elOdFsh">https://t.co/Aq1elOdFsh</a>
&mdash; John Cleese (@JohnCleese) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCleese/status/1652769812383166476?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Many agreed with Cleese&#8217;s assessment.
One person tweeted, &#8220;Yes, the Emperor&#8217;s New Clothes, written in 1837, is nothing new. We all see the absurdity, but few in positions of influence are willing to say the obvious for fear of being called transphobes.&#8221;
&#8220;Those debating this can&#8217;t even define &#8216;woman,’” another wrote.
While another person tweeted, &#8220;Of course, they do. It is reprehensible that our media and government support this!&#8221;
<a class="c-link" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-7429">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
Yet another added, &#8220;Proof that trans ideology benefits men first and foremost. Young female athletes will enter a world with fewer rights than their mothers.&#8221;
Cleese famously appeared in &#8220;Monty Python&#8217;s Life of Brian&#8221; in a scene that was ahead of it&#8217;s time regarding a man wanting to become a woman. When one of the male characters announces that he &#8220;wants to be&#8221; a woman, he tells the others in the film to now refer to him as &#8220;Loretta.&#8221;
WATCH:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Monty Python&#039;s The life of Brian - I want to be a woman" width="500" height="375" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sFBOQzSk14c?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Cleese tells the man that he can&#8217;t &#8220;have babies,&#8221; and cracks a joke about where the baby would come from.
&#8220;Where&#8217;s the fetus going to gestate?&#8221; Cleese’s character asks. &#8220;Are you going to keep it in a box?&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/monty-python-alum-john-cleese-slams-wokes-and-the-current-thrill-of-being-offended" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8216;Monty Python&#8217; Alum John Cleese Slams &#8216;Wokes&#8217; And The Current &#8216;Thrill Of Being Offended&#8217;</a>

‘Monty Python’ Alum Goes Viral After Tweeting About ‘Unfair Advantage’ ‘Biological Men’ Have In Women’s Sports

Transgender Athletes

Women's sports

The Babylon Bee’s video division uncorked the kind of clips “Saturday Night Live” once made.
Indie comics like Tyler Fischer, Ryan Long and Tim Dillon showed the power of alternative comedy buoyed by audiences eager for fresh laughs.
Dave Chappelle, Joe Rogan and Ricky Gervais defied the Cancel Culture crowd for one more year.
Woke scolds Trevor Noah gave up his late-night throne while Samantha Bee’s basement-low ratings finally crushed her callous “Full Frontal” platform.
Still, most late-night monologues avoided the current Commander-in-Chief, “SNL” acted like a de facto arm of the Democratic party, and Hollywood failed to make a single comedy that could stand tall next to “The Hangover” or “Bridesmaids.”
What lies ahead in 2023?
More reasons for optimism despite a comedy culture that would rather support the status quo than question it.
John Cleese, once again, will lead by example. The Monty Python alum may be the most vocal opponent of woke comedy laws. And, at 82, he’s not willing to be silenced. His <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/beware-the-wokes-monty-python-alum-defends-new-show-tackling-cancel-culture-and-new-authoritarians" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2023 program for GB News</a>, a right-leaning British channel, explores how what Elon Musk dubbed the “woke mind virus” is impacting funny business.
Best of all, Cleese is teaming with British comic Andrew Doyle for the untitled show. Doyle is not only a fervent critic of woke overreach but the mind behind Titania McGrath, Twitter’s funniest faux social justice warrior.
Chris Rock has gently pushed back against the woke mob in recent years. The “SNL” alum admitted he steers clear of college campuses to avoid crowds teeming with snowflakes.
Last year, he told Power 105.1’s “The Breakfast Club” that <a href="https://nypost.com/2021/05/20/chris-rock-rips-cancel-culture-for-rise-in-boring-entertainment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">comedy got boring</a> when people started fearing the wrong joke would hurt their careers.
“I see a lot of unfunny comedians, I see unfunny TV shows, I see unfunny awards shows, I see unfunny movies — because everybody’s scared to make a move.”
And he <a href="https://www.thewrap.com/chris-rock-tweets-article-comedys-insufferable-wokeness-accused-insufficient-wokeness/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">caught heat for tweeting a story</a> from The Federalist extolling the apolitical glory of Jerry Seinfeld’s “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.” Still, <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/chris-rock-jimmy-fallon-cancel-culture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rock stayed quiet</a> as the Cancel Culture mob came for Jimmy Fallon after a 20-year-old video of Fallon donning blackface to mimic Rock surfaced in 2020.
Rock’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/chris-rock-announces-new-comedy-special-the-first-netflix-will-ever-stream-live" target="_blank" rel="noopener">upcoming comedy special</a> suggests he’s ready to tackle woke head-on. “Selective Outrage,” to be streamed live on Netflix March 4.
That title hints at the reams of material that’s yet to be mined in the mainstream, like how country crooner Morgan Wallen got canceled for uttering the “n-word” once, in private, while First Son Hunter Biden texted it aplenty sans consequences.
Will Rock go there? Can he afford not to at this point in the culture?
Movie comedies essentially hit a wall when woke took over Hollywood. Gone are the days when ribald romps like “Step Brothers,” “Superbad” or “Old School” made audiences howl. 
Peter Farrelly <a href="https://deadline.com/2022/09/peter-farrelly-the-greatest-beer-run-ever-zac-efron-bill-murray-russell-crowe-toronto-film-festival-interview-1235112655/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">misses that era, too.</a>
The director of “There’s Something About Mary,” “Kingpin” and “Dumb and Dumber” vows a return to form with “Ricky Stanicky.” The upcoming comedy, which could earn a 2023 release date, follows a group of friends who blame their bad behavior on their rambunctious (but fictional) chum Ricky.
When their spouses demand to meet Ricky in the flesh, the buddies scramble to hire someone (John Cena) to play their farcical friend.
The Oscar-winner for “Green Book” thinks the time is right, and ripe, for a no holds barred romp. Again.
“That’s the opportunity now for somebody to break out with an R-rated comedy and the whole world is going to see it and they’re going to say, why can’t we have more of this? I miss them.”
Russell Brand starred in two such comedies – “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Get Him to the Greek.” Now, the British comic is red pilling viewers via his YouTube channel, which boasts north of 6.11 million subscribers.
The comedian tackles everything from American politics to pandemic overreach, and he does it while constantly thanking his fans for their support. That spirit, and his eagerness to leaven his punditry with laughter, makes him formidable in the new year, and beyond.
For those who prefer old-school stand up, three performers are hitting the road in 2023 promising woke-free entertainment.
British superstar Ricky Gervais has been pummeling Identity Politics along with Cleese for some time. It’s just jokes, he reminds us, and his 2022 Netflix special “SuperNature” proved he’s unafraid of his noisy critics.
He’ll be coming to some major American halls – the Hollywood Bowl and Radio City Music Hall in the new year, and there’s no chance he’ll be pulling his punches upon his arrival.
Few think of Jeff Dunham when the subject of woke comedy rears its ugly head. The ventriloquist quietly avoids those unwritten bylaws by following the funny wherever it may lead. That meant creating the “Fireside Shat” series mocking President Joe Biden and scolding <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/jeff-dunham-rips-fellow-comics-growing-political-comedians-pick-side?intcmp=tw_fnc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">uber-partisan</a> comics (without naming names, but we know who they are) for putting clapter above joy.
Dunham will be touring the nation in 2023, along with a “SNL” alum who changed his brand to battle back against free speech suppression.
Rob Schneider’s early career yielded indelible characters (“SNL’s” Richmeister) and iconic film roles (“Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo”) alike. The left-leaning comic, pals with Cleese off-screen, is now one of the most vocal foes of speech suppression.
He weaponizes his Twitter feed to promote free speech issues and blast those eager to smite independent thought. He, too, will be on tour in 2023, and you won’t find him apologizing for past sketches or sandpapering down the rough edges of his material.
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="http://www.hollywoodintoto.com/">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News&#8217; Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://twitter.com/HollywoodInToto?lang=en">@HollywoodInToto</a>. 
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

The National Board Of Review Annual Awards Gala – Inside

Signs Of Life: Comedians Who Resisted The ‘Woke Mind Virus’ In 2022 And Stood Up For Free Speech

Chris Rock

Rob Schneider

A clip from the comedy <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/movies">film</a> “Monty Python&#8217;s Life of Brian” is making rounds on social media, with viewers noticing how it’s a commentary on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender">trans ideology</a> that seemed to predict modern arguments.
“For anyone wondering why [Elon Musk] loves Monty Python. Just 40 years ahead of their time!” the original poster shared. 
Musk commented on the clip, saying, “They saw this coming in the 70’s!”
Actor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/john-cleese">John Cleese</a>, who wrote and starred in the 1979 comedy, also commented on the scene. “No complaints about this scene for 45 years,” he shared while re-tweeting the clip. &#8220;But they will start any time next week.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
No complaints about this scene for 45 years
But they will start any time next week <a href="https://t.co/pWRRyoAde3">https://t.co/pWRRyoAde3</a>
&mdash; John Cleese (@JohnCleese) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCleese/status/1605591238534537217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In the clip, the character Stan (Eric Idle) confesses his desire to become a woman. 
“I want to be a woman. From now on I want you all to call me Loretta,” Stan tells his friends while they’re sitting in a Roman amphitheater. “It&#8217;s my right as a man.”
When asked why he wants to be a woman, Stan replies that it’s because he “wants to have babies.”
“It&#8217;s every man&#8217;s right to have babies if he wants them,” he says as his friends express their shock. “Don’t you oppress me.”
“I&#8217;m not oppressing you, Stan; you haven&#8217;t got a womb,” Reg (Cleese) argues. “Where&#8217;s the fetus going to gestate? You going to keep it in a box?”
When Stan starts crying, Judith (Sue Jones-Davies) jumps in with a suggestion. “Here! I&#8217;ve got an idea,” she says. “Suppose you agree that he can&#8217;t actually have babies, not having a womb, which is nobody&#8217;s fault, not even the Romans,&#8217; but that he can have the right to have babies,” she says.
When Reg asks, exasperated, what the “point” of making that concession is, Francis (Michael Palin) says, “It is symbolic of our struggle against oppression.”
“It&#8217;s symbolic of his struggle against reality,” Reg retorts.
Cleese has been vocal in his stance against woke concepts in the past. The British actor and comedian just said during an interview with Reason that “wokeism” represents “the internal interruption” of the creative process.
“You think of an idea and you immediately think: ‘Oooh, is that going to get me into trouble? Well, that person last Thursday got away with it,&#8217;” <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/monty-python-alum-has-had-it-with-wokeism-the-death-of-creativity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cleese</a> told the publication, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/monty-python-alum-john-cleese-slams-wokes-and-the-current-thrill-of-being-offended">reported</a>. “But all that stuff immediately stops you being creative.”
“The woke people, I think, miss something quite badly,” he continued. “The meaning of a word depends on its context. If I use sarcasm, then what I’m meaning is the opposite of the words I’m actually saying. If you don’t get irony, then if you take it seriously, you completely misunderstand the intention of the writer or speaker.”

Monty Python In Tunisia

‘Monty Python’ Clip Mocking Trans Ideology Goes Viral: ’40 Years Ahead Of Their Time’

'Monty Python' Clip Mocking Trans Ideology Goes Viral: '40 Years Ahead Of Their Time'

Movies

Transgender

Twitter

&#8220;Monty Python&#8221; alumni John Cleese slammed those he called the &#8220;wokes&#8221; and talked about the current environment for entertainers with many people sitting in the audience just waiting for the &#8220;thrill of being offended.&#8221;
During a wide-ranging interview for Reason.com&#8217;s January 2023 <a href="https://reason.com/2022/12/18/john-cleese-on-how-wokeness-smothers-creativity/?fbclid=IwAR0d9PL2VsNu_nW7lmMZG99KEjJ-cAnxdWEOeF1KQci9bD5AB-n3EjFh5QQ">issue</a>, the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/john-cleese">83-year-old</a> comedian talked about political correctness and &#8220;wokeism&#8221; which he called the enemies of creativity and humor. The &#8220;Fawlty Towers&#8221; star said that &#8220;wokeism&#8221; is &#8220;the internal interruption&#8221; of the creative process.
&#8220;You think of an idea and you immediately think: &#8216;Oooh, is that going to get me into trouble? Well, that person last Thursday got away with it,'&#8221; Cleese shared. &#8220;But all that stuff immediately stops you being creative.&#8221;
&#8220;The woke people, I think, miss something quite badly,&#8221; he added. &#8220;The meaning of a word depends on its context. If I use sarcasm, then what I&#8217;m meaning is the opposite of the words I&#8217;m actually saying. If you don&#8217;t get irony, then if you take it seriously, you completely misunderstand the intention of the writer or speaker.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Monty Python legend <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCleese?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JohnCleese</a> on giving offense and getting laughs <a href="https://t.co/g6ukBw4Yg7">https://t.co/g6ukBw4Yg7</a>
&mdash; reason (@reason) <a href="https://twitter.com/reason/status/1604432054317641728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;There are people sitting there who are deliberately waiting for the thrill of being offended,&#8221; Cleese continued.
The &#8220;A Fish Called Wanda&#8221; <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/monty-python-alum-has-had-it-with-wokeism-the-death-of-creativity">star</a> also said he realized decades ago the importance of laughter in helping us heal with the struggles and hardships of our own lives.
&#8220;It takes us to a part of our mind where we&#8217;re probably healthier than we are at any other time, and it&#8217;s this thing about laughing at yourself,&#8221; the actor shared. &#8220;I&#8217;m not so sure that the wokes would ever laugh at themselves, no matter how hilarious they are.&#8221;
The famed British comedian has been very outspoken in the past about cancel culture and even announced plans to host a new unnamed show on GB news that he said will tackle it, labeling the &#8220;wokes&#8221; the new &#8220;authoritarians,&#8221; as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/beware-the-wokes-monty-python-alum-defends-new-show-tackling-cancel-culture-and-new-authoritarians">previously reported</a>.
&#8220;Like all people who believe that are purer than they actually are, they are authoritarians,&#8221; Cleese previously <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCleese/status/1579397566655262720?s=20&amp;t=uUR-qN7yGJAx40uWiVuwFA">tweeted</a> about his new show. &#8220;Which is why all the best comedians make fun of them.&#8221;
The comedian will work with political satirist and comedian Andrew Doyle on the show that will hit the air waves in 2023, <a href="https://variety.com/2022/tv/global/monty-python-john-cleese-gb-news-cancel-culture-1235397650/">Variety</a> noted. No title has yet to be released.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/beware-the-wokes-monty-python-alum-defends-new-show-tackling-cancel-culture-and-new-authoritarians">&#8216;Beware The ‘Wokes’&#8217;: &#8216;Monty Python&#8217; Alum Defends New Show Tackling &#8216;Cancel Culture&#8217; And New &#8216;Authoritarians&#8217;</a>

‘Monty Python’ Alum John Cleese Slams ‘Wokes’ And The Current ‘Thrill Of Being Offended’

&#8220;Monty Python&#8221; alumni John Cleese defended his new show tackling &#8220;cancel culture&#8221; and said &#8220;wokes&#8221; won&#8217;t like it because they are &#8220;authoritarians&#8221; and &#8220;people who believe [they] are purer than they actually are.&#8221;
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/john-cleese">82-year-old actor</a>/comedian took to Twitter Monday following his appearance on BBC Radio 4&#8217;s popular &#8220;Today&#8221; program on Monday where he talked about that his new unnamed show on GB News would &#8220;never get on the BBC.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, can we just stop to appreciate that [John Cleese] went on the BBC today to talk about how he would be cancelled if he went on the BBC and there is no irony?&#8221; the person tweeted.
&#8220;It would depend on the subject, wouldn&#8217;t it,&#8221; Cleese replied.  &#8220;The show I have in mind for GB News would NEVER get on to the BBC. Are you able to understand that? I think&#8230;probably not.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
It&#39;s content
There&#39;s a massive about of important information that gets censored, both in TV and in the press
In my new show, I&#39;ll be talking about a lot of it
You should be prepared to be shocked <a href="https://t.co/RyYEo34Fhe">https://t.co/RyYEo34Fhe</a>
&mdash; John Cleese (@JohnCleese) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCleese/status/1579395992293892096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;It&#8217;s content,&#8221; he added, when another person asked if he thought he will ever be invited back on the BBC after his GB show makes air. &#8220;There&#8217;s a massive [amount] of important information that gets censored, both in TV and in the press. In my new show, I&#8217;ll be talking about a lot of it. You should be prepared to be shocked.”
When another person suggested he was going to be in &#8220;*such* fantastic company on GB News,&#8221; the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/monty-python-alum-has-had-it-with-wokeism-the-death-of-creativity">superstar</a> replied that he thought &#8220;&#8216;guilt by by association&#8217; went out with Communism.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I thought &#39;guilt by by association&#39; went out with Communism
Why don&#39;t you watch the first couple of programmes ?
You&#39;re a bit like Mary Whitehouse trying to get Life of Brian cancelled before they&#39;d even seen the script <a href="https://t.co/obsPcdYpt6">https://t.co/obsPcdYpt6</a>
&mdash; John Cleese (@JohnCleese) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCleese/status/1579396900868198400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Why don&#8217;t you watch the first couple of programmes,&#8221; the comedian explained. &#8220;You&#8217;re a bit like Mary Whitehouse trying to get Life of Brian cancelled before they&#8217;d even seen the script.&#8221;
Later, Cleese replied to one person who said they were willing to keep an open mind about it.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I appreciate your open mindedness, Harry
But beware the &#39;wokes&#39;. They won&#39;t like it !
Like all people who believe thet are purer than they actually are, they are authoritarians
Which is why all the best comedians make fun of them <a href="https://t.co/6hzfQkH8rg">https://t.co/6hzfQkH8rg</a>
&mdash; John Cleese (@JohnCleese) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCleese/status/1579397566655262720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I appreciate your open mindedness, Harry,&#8221; the actor wrote. &#8220;But beware the &#8216;wokes&#8217;. They won&#8217;t like it! Like all people who believe [they] are purer than they actually are, they are authoritarians. Which is why all the best comedians make fun of them.&#8221;
During Cleese&#8217;s appearance on the BBC Radio Monday, he said his show on GB News would be canceled during first &#8220;five minutes&#8221; if it was on the BBC, <a href="https://variety.com/2022/tv/global/monty-python-john-cleese-gb-news-cancel-culture-1235397650/">Variety</a> noted.
&#8220;I was approached and I didn&#8217;t know who they were,&#8221; Cleese said of GB News. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know much about modern television because I&#8217;ve pretty much given up on it — I mean, English television. Then, I met one or two of the people concerned and had a dinner with them and I liked them very much.&#8221;
&#8220;What they said was, &#8216;People say it&#8217;s a right-wing channel, but it&#8217;s a free speech channel,'&#8221; he added. &#8220;The nice thing about talking to the GB News audience is that they may not be used to hearing the sort of things I&#8217;ll be saying.&#8221;
Cleese admitted no one from the BBC had approached him about doing a show and made it clear if they did he&#8217;d &#8220;say &#8216;Not on your Nelly.&#8217; I wouldn&#8217;t get five minutes into the first show before I got canceled or censored.&#8221;
The comedian will work with political satirist and comedian Andrew Doyle on the show that will hit the air waves in 2023, the outlet noted. No title has yet to be released.

‘Beware The ‘Wokes’’: ‘Monty Python Alum’ Defends New Show Tackling ‘Cancel Culture’ And New ‘Authoritarians’

Menu