'They wait for thrill of being offended': John Cleese on how woke culture interrupts with creativity
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: 'Monty Python' alum John Cleese expressed his views on political correctness being the enemy of not only humor but also creative thinking in all human activity. "There are people waiting for the thrill of being offended," he said in an interview with Reason's Nick Gillespie, while slamming 'wokeism' as “the internal interruption” of the creative process.
During the interview for the January 2023 issue, the 83-year-old comedian discussed freedom of expression and the necessity of paying attention to the context. “You think of an idea and you immediately think: ‘Oooh, is that going to get me into trouble? Well, that person last Thursday got away with it,'” Cleese shared. “But all that stuff immediately stops you being creative.” “The woke people, I think, miss something quite badly,” he continued. “The meaning of a word depends on its context. If I use sarcasm, then what I’m meaning is the opposite of the words I’m actually saying. If you don’t get irony, then if you take it seriously, you completely misunderstand the intention of the writer or speaker.”
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“There are people sitting there who are deliberately waiting for the thrill of being offended,” Cleese added. The ‘Fawlty Towers’ star further talked about the importance of laughter that helps us heal from the struggles and hardships of our own lives. “It takes us to a part of our mind where we’re probably healthier than we are at any other time, and it’s this thing about laughing at yourself,” the actor shared. “I’m not so sure that the wokes would ever laugh at themselves, no matter how hilarious they are.”
The famed British comedian, who satirizes politics, has spoken about cancel culture in the past. He has even announced plans of hosting a new unnamed show on GB news that would be based on such notions. He has labeled the “wokes” the new “authoritarians,” as per the DailyMail.
“Like all people who believe that are purer than they actually are, they are authoritarians,” Cleese wrote in a tweet while promoting his new show. “Which is why all the best comedians make fun of them.”
I appreciate your open mindedness, Harry
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) October 10, 2022
But beware the 'wokes'. They won't like it !
Like all people who believe thet are purer than they actually are, they are authoritarians
Which is why all the best comedians make fun of them https://t.co/6hzfQkH8rg
According to Variety, the ‘A Fish Called Wanda’ star will be collaborating with political satirist and comedian Andrew Doyle on the show that will debut in 2023. No title has been released yet.