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London Isn’t an English City? John Cleese Opens the Twitter Floodgates John Cleese Suggests London Isn’t ‘Really an English City’
(about 3 hours later)
LONDON — Many Londoners are proud to be part of a city that is both very English and exceptionally multicultural. So when the comedian and Monty Python star John Cleese questioned the city’s Englishness in a Twitter post, London’s defenders rose up on social media.LONDON — Many Londoners are proud to be part of a city that is both very English and exceptionally multicultural. So when the comedian and Monty Python star John Cleese questioned the city’s Englishness in a Twitter post, London’s defenders rose up on social media.
“Some years ago I opined that London was not really an English city any more,” he wrote on Twitter on Wednesday, adding that “virtually all” his friends from abroad had confirmed his observation.“Some years ago I opined that London was not really an English city any more,” he wrote on Twitter on Wednesday, adding that “virtually all” his friends from abroad had confirmed his observation.
The 79-year-old Mr. Cleese left Britain for the Caribbean island of Nevis last year, a decision he said was based on a general disappointment with Britain — specifically the “lying and triviality” of British newspapers and the “depressing” standard of debate around Brexit. (Mr. Cleese voted to leave the European Union in the 2016 referendum.) “I note also that London was the UK city that voted most strongly to remain in the E.U.,” he added in his tweet.The 79-year-old Mr. Cleese left Britain for the Caribbean island of Nevis last year, a decision he said was based on a general disappointment with Britain — specifically the “lying and triviality” of British newspapers and the “depressing” standard of debate around Brexit. (Mr. Cleese voted to leave the European Union in the 2016 referendum.) “I note also that London was the UK city that voted most strongly to remain in the E.U.,” he added in his tweet.
Those who found the tweet disturbing included Mayor Sadiq Khan of London, who became the city’s first Muslim mayor in 2016 and has been a fierce defender of London’s multiculturalism.Those who found the tweet disturbing included Mayor Sadiq Khan of London, who became the city’s first Muslim mayor in 2016 and has been a fierce defender of London’s multiculturalism.
“Londoners know that our diversity is our greatest strength,” Mr. Khan wrote on Twitter. “We are proudly the English capital, a European city and a global hub.”“Londoners know that our diversity is our greatest strength,” Mr. Khan wrote on Twitter. “We are proudly the English capital, a European city and a global hub.”
In addition to being one of the creators of “Monty Python’s Flying Circus,” Mr. Cleese played the eminently English innkeeper Basil Fawlty in the BBC sitcom “Fawlty Towers,” first broadcast in 1975.In addition to being one of the creators of “Monty Python’s Flying Circus,” Mr. Cleese played the eminently English innkeeper Basil Fawlty in the BBC sitcom “Fawlty Towers,” first broadcast in 1975.
“These comments make John Cleese sound like he’s in character as Basil Fawlty,” Mr. Khan wrote.“These comments make John Cleese sound like he’s in character as Basil Fawlty,” Mr. Khan wrote.
Others posted variations on that theme, including a screenshot of Mr. Cleese in the role of Mr. Fawlty punching the Spanish-born waiter Manuel in the lobby of his hotel. Others suggested that his comments were racially motivated.Others posted variations on that theme, including a screenshot of Mr. Cleese in the role of Mr. Fawlty punching the Spanish-born waiter Manuel in the lobby of his hotel. Others suggested that his comments were racially motivated.
As part of the often-provocative Monty Python troupe, Mr. Cleese has defended the role of comedy in a democratic society. In recent years, he campaigned on behalf of the Liberal Democrats to change how members of Parliament are elected, and for more oversight of the tabloid press that he particularly despised.As part of the often-provocative Monty Python troupe, Mr. Cleese has defended the role of comedy in a democratic society. In recent years, he campaigned on behalf of the Liberal Democrats to change how members of Parliament are elected, and for more oversight of the tabloid press that he particularly despised.
Some users on Twitter said they were sad about Mr. Cleese’s comments. “I know he’s grown old and grumpy etc. etc. but he was a great hero of mine,” wrote Andrew Scott, a writer and playwright based in London who posts under the name Otto English.Some users on Twitter said they were sad about Mr. Cleese’s comments. “I know he’s grown old and grumpy etc. etc. but he was a great hero of mine,” wrote Andrew Scott, a writer and playwright based in London who posts under the name Otto English.
Mr. Cleese has declined a state honor from the queen, calling it “silly,” and turned down an offer to join the House of Lords as a peer — because, he said, it would have involved staying in England for the winter.Mr. Cleese has declined a state honor from the queen, calling it “silly,” and turned down an offer to join the House of Lords as a peer — because, he said, it would have involved staying in England for the winter.
London, by far the largest city in Britain, is also its most diverse. More than a third of the population was born outside Britain, and over 20 percent are not British nationals, according to the Office for National Statistics.London, by far the largest city in Britain, is also its most diverse. More than a third of the population was born outside Britain, and over 20 percent are not British nationals, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Wednesday night, Mr. Cleese rejected accusations that his remarks were racist, saying that Nevis, his new home, had “excellent race relations, a very well educated population, no sign of political correctness.” His comments found sympathy among supporters of the populist Brexit party, including Lee Hurst, a comedian who accused the “Twitter hate mob” for going after Mr. Cleese.Wednesday night, Mr. Cleese rejected accusations that his remarks were racist, saying that Nevis, his new home, had “excellent race relations, a very well educated population, no sign of political correctness.” His comments found sympathy among supporters of the populist Brexit party, including Lee Hurst, a comedian who accused the “Twitter hate mob” for going after Mr. Cleese.
Mr. Cleese has said that his dissatisfaction with Britain motivated his own “leave” decision. But observers, including in replies to Mr. Cleese’s tweet on Wednesday, noted that he himself had suggested that he moved to the Caribbean to find a tax haven.Mr. Cleese has said that his dissatisfaction with Britain motivated his own “leave” decision. But observers, including in replies to Mr. Cleese’s tweet on Wednesday, noted that he himself had suggested that he moved to the Caribbean to find a tax haven.
Responding to his critics on Twitter, Mr. Cleese stopped short of an apology. “I suspect I should apologize for my affection for the Englishness of my upbringing,” he wrote Wednesday night. “But in some ways I found it calmer, more polite, more humorous, less tabloid, and less money oriented than the one that is replacing it.”Responding to his critics on Twitter, Mr. Cleese stopped short of an apology. “I suspect I should apologize for my affection for the Englishness of my upbringing,” he wrote Wednesday night. “But in some ways I found it calmer, more polite, more humorous, less tabloid, and less money oriented than the one that is replacing it.”