John Cleese was trying to defend JK Rowling and ended up being labeled as transphobic himself. As we’ve told you, she’s been slammed over her controversial statements on the subject transgender issues.
The fans were knocking the “Monty Python” star for signing a letter of support for the embattled author. One fan asked him to be up front about his views on the controversy. After admitting that he wasn’t particularly interested in trans folks, he said, “Right now I’m more focused on threats to democracy in America, the rampant corruption in the UK, the appalling British Press, the revelations about police brutality, Covid19, the incompetence of the British government, China’s complete disregard for the necessity to abandon fossil fuels, the developments in France between Macron and Islamicists, diabetes, and the recent deaths of several of my close friends.”
The 81-year-old also admitted to having a superficial understanding of trans issues and asked, “Does that prove phobia?”
- Needless to say, the comic legend was didn’t come off well in the exchanges. Author Adam Tierney said in a now-deleted tweet, “Damn. Really wasn’t expecting someone as talented and amazing as John Cleese to be anti-trans,” while trans author Lilah Sturges said he was “transphobic in a way that attempts and fails to be funny.”
