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- cross-posted to:
- [email protected]
Last year, the Monty Python legend announced that he would be hosting his own show on the news channel and that it would be a “no holds barred account of the news”.
Entitled The Dinosaur Hour, Cleese appeared on GB News to discuss his decision to join the network, telling Michelle Dewberry: “They came to me a few months ago and they made me the most extraordinary offer that’s ever been made to anyone in the history of television.”
He added: “They said ‘would you like to do ten shows; you can do whatever you like’. Can you imagine the BBC doing that? It would be subject to committee A and then after committee A had approved it, you’d go to Committee B. They said you can do anything and I’ve had no interference of any kind and it has been joyful.”
The show will be filmed at a thousand year old castle and feature Cleese having intimate conversations with a number of guests.
This controversy seems constructed to me. Not caring about how others live their lives is different from being against it….
Thing is that he gets to speak out in support of someone actively working to harm trans people in the UK. But then when the backlash comes around, he gets to say that he doesn’t care.
If he didn’t care, then why stick his nose in it?
If he hopes that trans people are happy and that people treat them kindly, then why does he speak favourably of people who want to strip them of their legal recognitions and protections, and who harass and degrade them?
One can argue that he doesn’t know the extent of the issues that trans people face. And that fair. But that ignorance is weaponised against trans people. He either doesn’t need to care so he doesn’t inform himself before speaking. Or he does care and is opposed to trans people living their lives authentically, and is just saying that he doesn’t care to avoid getting embroiled in the controversy.
Without knowing what goes on in his mind, I’d argue he’s getting old. Previously Cleese worked with Rowling, maybe he held positive views on her as a person and wanted to express that. I don’t know. Judging by his public appearances I’d argue that he just likes to make controversial or odd statements in order to get some laughs but doesn’t see any harm in those statements.
What I’m saying is: he’s old.
Sure he’s a curmudgeonly old man walking down the same path so many previous comedians walk: when their jokes stop landing, they rage at minorities rather than updating their craft.
It still does harm. He doesn’t get a free pass.