John Cleese

[[File:JohnCleese2019.png|right|thumb|165px|Cleese in 2019. He's had [[Good old days|better days.]]]]

{{Cquote|All humans are stupid, but the smarter ones at least have a handle on their own ignorance.|20px|20px|John Cleese, 2020<ref>Matthew Syed, [https://www.thetimes.com/article/when-dogma-beats-data-reason-is-lost-7cwbdqndl When dogma beats data, reason is lost]. ''The Times'', 27 September 2020.</ref>}}

{{Cquote|These comments make John Cleese sound like he’s in character as Basil Fawlty. |20px|20px|Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London (after Cleese said London was no longer English), 2019<ref>[https://archive.is/2hqtm Sadiq Khan], Archived from X, 29 May 2019.</ref>}}

'''John Marwood Cleese''' {{lived|1939}} is a [[United Kingdom|British]] actor, comedian and creaky old fart.<ref>{{cite web | title=John Cleese’s guide to creativity and how it can transform your business | website=Business Leader | url=https://www.businessleader.co.uk/masterclass-john-cleese/ | access-date=}}</ref> He is known for several things, including his roles as a member of ''[[Monty Python]]'', both creating and starring in the classic sitcom ''Fawlty Towers'', and most recently for his anti-woke views.<ref>{{cite web | title= Life’s Work: An Interview with John Cleese| website=Harvard Business Review | date=March 2014 | url=https://hbr.org/2014/03/john-cleese | access-date=}}</ref>

A long-time supporter of the [[Liberal Democrats]], and latterly the similar SDP, he is a man of complex and sometimes contradictory views. In 2014, he showed an interest in [[UKIP]] for its challenge to the established political order. At the same time, he expressed support for immigration, though he also had concerns about the integration of immigrants into British culture.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20151105021521/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/relationships/11157618/John-Cleese-says-Ive-finally-found-true-love-in-a-fish-and-three-cats.html John Cleese says: 'I’ve finally found true love – in a fish and three cats’] The Telegraph, October 13, 2014 (From Wayback Machine)</ref>

Cleese publicly supported [[Brexit]], citing a lack of [[European Union|EU]] reform, and accused EU bureaucrats of having taken away "any trace of [[democratic]] accountability".<ref>Georg Szalai, [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/brexit-john-cleese-jeremy-clarkson-904348/ John Cleese, Jeremy Clarkson Chime in on Brexit Vote as Debate Enters Final Days]. ''Hollywood Reporter'', 20 June 2016.</ref>

During the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 US presidential election]], he described [[Donald Trump]] as "a narcissist, with no attention span, who doesn't have clear ideas about anything and makes it all up as he goes along".<ref>[https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/donald-trump-narcissist-with-no-attention-span-says-john-cleese/35120288.html Donald Trump narcissist with no attention span, says John Cleese]. ''Belfast Telegraph'', 10 October 2016.</ref> Not being a fan of the [[Republican Party]], he has described its leadership as "the most cynical, most disgracefully immoral people I've ever come across in a Western civilisation".<ref>[https://www.oxfordstudent.com/2017/04/13/john-cleese-speak-oxford-union-no-hope/ John Cleese to speak at the Oxford Union on ‘Why is there no hope?’]. ''Oxford Student'', 13 Apri 2017.</ref>

==The bright side of life==
Cleese co-founded ''The Secret Policeman's Ball'', which stages comedy benefit shows to raise funds for [[Amnesty International]] and other [[human rights]] organisations. His involvement greatly helped to popularize the event and bring much greater attention to Amnesty International's work and human rights in general.

In 2008, Cleese expressed support for presidential candidate [[Barack Obama]], including offering his services as a speech writer. In contrast, he said of [[Sarah Palin]]: "Michael Palin is no longer the funniest Palin", and likened her to a well-trained parrot.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100616180442/http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b63785_John_Cleese__Sarah_Palin_Funnier_Than_Michael_Palin.html John Cleese: Sarah Palin Funnier Than Michael Palin] eonline, October 14, 2008 (From Wayback Machine)</ref>

==And now for something completely different==
In 2019, Cleese repeated statements that he made in 2011 that London was no longer an English city due to its many different cultures. This created a backlash and he was accused of [[racism]]. Cleese, sadly, doubled down.<ref>Jacob Stolworthy, [https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/john-cleese-twitter-london-english-city-racism-caribbean-brexit-eu-a8934911.html John Cleese says London 'not really an English city any more', prompting dog-whistle racism claims]. ''The Independent'', 29 May 2019.</ref>

Cleese has defended [[J. K. Rowling]] and her [[Transphobia|transphobic]] views in recent years, saying that he wanted to be a [[Cambodia]]n [[Law enforcement|policewoman]].<ref>[https://variety.com/2020/film/news/john-cleese-transphobic-tweets-jk-rowling-1234837693/ John Cleese Sparks Backlash Over Transphobic Tweets in Defense of J.K. Rowling]. ''Variety'', 22 November 2020.</ref>
==External links==
*[https://www.johncleese.com/ John Cleese's official website]
*[https://www.youtube.com/@thejohncleese John Cleese's official channel] on [[YouTube]]
*[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000092/ John Cleese on IMDb]
*[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/JohnCleese John Cleese] on [[TV Tropes]]
==References==
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[[Category:Actors]]
[[Category:British people]]
[[Category:Comedians]]
[[Category:Leftists who turned right with age]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Transphobes]]

Categories: Actors, British people, Comedians, Leftists who turned right with age, Living people, Transphobes