John Cleese has insisted that he is 'not a racist' after voicing support for Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe, stating that he believes 'some cultures are better than others'. The Fawlty Towers and Monty Python star, 86, has become increasingly outspoken on social media in recent months, voicing concerns over immigration, free speech and cancel culture.
Cleese's social media statements
Responding to a post featuring the former Reform UK MP, Cleese recently said on X: 'I trust this man more than any of the other leaders.' He then added yesterday: 'I see I am being ritually insulted for my support of this man. The uneducated call me a racist. I am not a racist. I am a culturalist. I believe that some cultures are better than others.'
Cleese continued: 'I prefer cultures that do not advocate stoning, pederasty, wife beating, female genital mutilation, and beheading opponents. Call me old-fashioned…' Lowe then thanked Cleese publicly for his backing, saying that his support was 'appreciated'.
Previous controversial comments
This comes after Cleese recently called London mayor Sadiq Khan a 'silly little man', before writing: 'Sorry to have to say this… The British do not like the kind of diversity that intends to take over Britain and kill any infidel.' In another post, he also wrote: 'Traditional British values are under attack from Muslim belief systems.'
After serving as a spokesman for the Liberal Democrats in the late 90s, Cleese sparked backlash in 2019 for claiming London was 'not really an English city any more'. He also said that racial diversity had watered down the Englishness of the capital. In a separate interview, he elaborated by saying: 'I don't know what's going on in London because London is no longer an English city… we're the most cosmopolitan city on Earth but it doesn't feel English.' At the time, Cleese similarly insisted that he 'wasn't a racist'.
