
Comedian John Cleese has defended his comments about London, calling them “culturalist” rather than racist.
The British actor tweeted about the city, saying it's not "English" anymore: “Some years ago I opined that London was not really an English city any more.
“Since then, virtually all my friends from abroad have confirmed my observation.
So there must be some truth in it...
I note also that London was the UK city that voted most strongly to remain in the EU
His comments drew intense criticism online. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said his comments made him sound like his conservative character from sitcom Fawlty Towers.
Others pointed out that his comments were hypocritical, given that he moved to the Caribbean island of Nevis last year.
He has since doubled down on his comments in follow up tweets, insisting that his comments are “culturalist.”
“It might interest those people who seem to think my remarks about London are racist as opposed to culturalist, to consider that what I like about spending time in Nevis.”
Nevis has excellent race relations, a very well educated population, no sign of political correctness......
It might interest those people who seem to think my remarks about London are racist as opposed to culturalist, to c… https://t.co/9Po3nk3q4L— John Cleese (@John Cleese) 1559173716
......no sign of Rupert Murdoch, conscientious lawyers, a relaxed and humorous life style, a deep love of cricket,… https://t.co/mH8onGay4u— John Cleese (@John Cleese) 1559173927
And the icing on the cake is that Nevis is not the world centre for Russian dirty money laundering— John Cleese (@John Cleese) 1559174088
He went on to describe that he prefers certain cultures over others. "I think it's legitimate to prefer one culture to another."
For example, I prefer cultures that do not tolerate female genital mutilation.
Will this will be considered racist by all those who hover, eagerly hoping that someone will offend them - on someone else's behalf, naturally
But his explanation, for many, wasn't enough
@JohnCleese You’re... you’re not making this any better.— Dr. Jens Foell (@Dr. Jens Foell) 1559183375
Some called him a hypocrite. He can live in the Caribbean, but people from other countries moving to London is taking away its Englishness?
@JohnCleese Apparently Nevis is not really Caribbean any more.— MushyMelbowHead (@MushyMelbowHead) 1559194884
One person pointed out the Caribbean's colonial history...
@JohnCleese Nevis would be that island where a British colonialism almost exterminates the original population, the… https://t.co/l7tPcgZ0ou— Andrew Flood 👨🏻💻📝🕺 (@Andrew Flood 👨🏻💻📝🕺) 1559201941
@JohnCleese It’s a common observation that white colonial racist fears about people migrating draw from the way the… https://t.co/tuevzFLs2u— Andrew Flood 👨🏻💻📝🕺 (@Andrew Flood 👨🏻💻📝🕺) 1559202168
@JohnCleese Of course those expressing such fears are also the first to try and erase or at least minimize the crim… https://t.co/zo5crDsxlX— Andrew Flood 👨🏻💻📝🕺 (@Andrew Flood 👨🏻💻📝🕺) 1559202401
@JohnCleese You are basically hanging out in one of the last remanants of that ‘pink on the map’ empire built on sl… https://t.co/JsZ7qBiQXR— Andrew Flood 👨🏻💻📝🕺 (@Andrew Flood 👨🏻💻📝🕺) 1559202649
And some people pointed out the incongruity of Britain forcefully colonising entire countries, and yet he's annoyed about some innocent migration
@JohnCleese Is nativist better than racist, Mr. Cleese? The UK thought it had the right to rule the globe, but a co… https://t.co/JrNbEytwtR— R.A. Scientist (@R.A. Scientist) 1559175340
@JohnCleese Life on the plantation sounds idyllic.— David Zamula (@David Zamula) 1559174399
"Political correctness = people objecting to racism"
London, says another, has never been an "English city" in the way Cleese sees it - there has always been a racially oppressed underclass
London has never been "an English city" in the way John Cleese means it. From its inception as a metropolis it has… https://t.co/HKlplQuAwY— Dalia Gebrial (@Dalia Gebrial) 1559141292
More: Male coffee shop employee lectures pregnant woman about caffeine intake but gets roasted
More: Weatherman loses it after viewers complain about tornado warnings interrupting 'The Bachelorette'