John Cleese has held many titles during his decades of work, including comedic actor, producer, and even self-help author. After a recent fallout on Twitter, many people are already adding another credit added to his otherwise distinguished resume--bigot.
![John Cleese](https://d.newsweek.com/en/full/1674227/john-cleese.jpg?w=1200&f=e76f94e0a11b5c683acea826c58e7c78)
The trouble for the co-founder of the Monty Python comedy troupe began Sunday morning, when someone shared a screenshot of a September 30th tweet from Cleese that went somewhat unnoticed at the time--it was a signed letter expressing "solidarity" with J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter author who has spent the better part of the year rousing controversy with transphobic remarks and one particularly incendiary essay. (She was even publicly denounced by Daniel Radcliffe, who famously portrayed Potter onscreen.)
The letter Cleese signed and tweeted a screenshot of in September was published in The Sunday Times the prior weekend written in support for Rowling, calling her a victim of "an insidious, authoritarian and misogynistic trend in social media." The letter, also signed by novelist Ian McEwan and playwright Tom Stoppard, further cited her treatment as an "example of hate speech directed against her and other women that Twitter and other platforms enable and implicitly endorse."
On Sunday, Cleese was asked on Twitter if he really believes "there is some deep conspiracy to turn people 'against their genders.'"
Cleese's response prompted the backlash against him: "Deep down, I want to be a Cambodian police woman. Is that allowed, or am I being unrealistic?"
Deep down, I want to be a Cambodian police woman
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) November 22, 2020
Is that allowed, or am I being unrealistic ? https://t.co/oGPwEWJM9a
When another person asked Cleese to "be upfront and tell us your thoughts on JKR's position on trans folks," he replied that he was "not that interested" in the issue.
"I'm afraid I'm not that interested in trans folks," he wrote. "I just hope they're happy and that people treat them kindly."
He added that he was more focused on other matters, such as the "threats to democracy" in America, the "appalling British press," and police brutality.
I'm afraid I'm not that interested in trans folks
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) November 22, 2020
I just hope they're happy and that people treat them kindly
Right now I'm more focussed on threats to democracy in America, the rampant corruption in the UK, the appalling British Press, the revelations about police brutality... https://t.co/y6l33FBQNL
Pia Glenn was one of many who were left saddened by the legendary actor/comedian's comments. Glenn is a well-known Broadway actress, who had a starring role in the musical comedy Monty Python's Spamalot.
What @JohnCleese is doing rn is so sad. I've never made a false idol of anyone in the industry but holy shit did this man's work influence mine. I grew up on Python. I count Eric Idle as a friend, having had the honor of working with him when I was Lady of the Lake in Spamalot
— @PiaGlenn (@PiaGlenn) November 22, 2020
One person pointed out that the fact that Cleese kept responding with more offensive remarks shows that he is indeed interested in transgender people and issues, perhaps to the point of "fixating" on them.
The fact that you're fixating on this? Yes. It absolutely does. It proves bigotry. How many sporting events do you compete in daily? This doesn['t affect you at all. This is about people's lives, not your entertainment.
— jon rosenberg🌮🥦 (@jonrosenberg) November 22, 2020
LGBTQ+ activist and writer Charlotte Clymer pointed out that people in her community are discriminated against all the time--a situation only "exacerbated when public figures speak from ignorance and bigotry on trans rights."
Well, John, we are not being treated kindly. And I'm not talking about cordiality. I'm talking about discrimination in employment, housing, health care and other areas of living, all of which is exacerbated when public figures speak from ignorance and bigotry on trans rights.
— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) November 22, 2020
Podcaster and journalist Jesse David Fox wrote "I do wonder who young people think John Cleese is" in response to his "Cambodian police woman" message.
i do wonder who young people think John Cleese is
— Jesse David Fox: Battle Angel (@JesseDavidFox) November 22, 2020
Volcanologist Jess Phoenix wrote that making such statements as wanting to be a Cambodian police woman implies that trans people have a choice and joking about the issue can "harm vulnerable people."
Choosing to be transgender isn't a thing, John. It's not a whim, or a fantasy, or something that should be minimized with derogatory jokes from people with huge platforms. If you care about others at a basic human level, please stop saying things that harm vulnerable people.
— Jess Phoenix 🌋 (@jessphoenix2018) November 22, 2020
Video game developer and computer programmer Brianna Wu bemoaned the fact that celebrities accused of transphobia like Cleese, The Mandalorian actress Gina Carano, and Dave Chappelle use their considerably large platforms to hurt rather than help them.
I can't imagine having a platform as huge as JK Rowling, Gina Carano, John Cleese or Dave Chappelle and using it hurt some of the most vulnerable populations on earth. It's sadistic. https://t.co/SdarkCDiBD
— Brianna Wu (@BriannaWu) November 22, 2020
Respected oncologist and critic of alternative medicine and the anti-vaccination movement Dr. David Gorksi felt that Cleese's jokes were not only hurtful but also unoriginal.
It's sad when an old comedian whose work I loved back in the day can no longer come up with decent material and instead regurgitates a variant of the same old unfunny joke endlessly repeated by anti-trans bigots.🙄
— David Gorski, MD, PhD (@gorskon) November 22, 2020
Writer/filmmaker Jesse Hawken told Cleese that he betrays his following of gay and queer people who grew up with Monty Python.
The thing about John Cleese: think about everything Monty Python did to provide entertainment and visibility for young gay and queer people in a dangerous time to be such a person. Cleese betrays them with his proud attitude of bigotry towards trans people now
— Jesse Hawken (@jessehawken) November 22, 2020
Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness pointed out that while Cleese is "not that interested in trans folks" and instead is focused on what he feels is more important issues like threats to Democracy and police brutality, transphobia itself is a major issue worth bringing attention to since trans people are being murdered all over the world.
Dear @JohnCleese you've made several transphobic comments here. You do seem to not only be interested in trans folks, but also adding to transphobia at a time when trans people are being murdered world wide. Trans & non binary people aren't being treated kindly. https://t.co/7rzztvadoL
— Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) November 22, 2020
This writer thinks Cleese's police woman joke is 1) unfunny and "done to death" and 2) the star might even feel better not "picking on marginalized people."
This transphobic joke has been done to death.
— Amanda Jetté Knox (@MavenOfMayhem) November 22, 2020
It's really not hard to stop picking on marginalized people. I urge you to give it a try. It feels quite good, actually.
This responder defends Cleese, mainly taking exception to those who say the comedian is no longer relevant.
All those soy-fed shitehawks queuing up to scream about how "irrelevant" @JohnCleese honestly don't see how utterly moronic they look right now. Irrelevance is now being mentioned by thousands. Imagine that.
— Hayden Hewitt (@HaydenHewitt) November 22, 2020
Even with the huge outpouring of people calling on Cleese to do better, he clearly isn't backing down from his detractors as of yet, though, as evidenced by a couple of tweets later Sunday night meant to provoke woke culture.
It's the complete lack of perspective that bothers me
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) November 22, 2020
Of course, that goes with a complete lack of a sense of humour
Heard a woke joke yet ? https://t.co/97Au5WjuGT
About the writer
Jon Jackson is an Associate Editor at Newsweek based in New York. His focus is on reporting on the Ukraine ... Read more