The prominent Islamophobe John Cleese is to tour the UK in September and will visit cities with large Muslim populations such as Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford and Leeds.
One of Britain’s best-known comedians and actors, Cleese, 86, has been involved in a sustained campaign of Islamophobia and misinformation about Muslims on his social media.
He is due to appear at 18 venues across England during September as part of his John Cleese and The Holy Grail tour, which features a screening of the classic Monty Python film followed by a live conversation and audience Q&A with the comedian.
The tour will take Cleese to Basingstoke, Tunbridge Wells, Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Buxton, New Brighton, York, Newcastle, Torquay, Woking, Watford, Bournemouth, Cheltenham, Bedford, Richmond, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds.
Several of those cities, including Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Bedford, are home to substantial Muslim communities.
For several months, Cleese has posted hostile comments about Islam and Muslims on his X account, which has five million followers.
Among the most inflammatory was a post in March in which Cleese claimed that the Qur’an’s teaching was “ALL about acquiring power, killing ‘infidels’ and imposing Islam on everyone.”
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He contrasted the Qur’an with the teachings of Jesus and went on to claim that Britain’s Christian tradition was consequently “vastly superior” and more respectful of human dignity.
The post remains publicly accessible on Cleese’s X account.
Cleese has also repeatedly associated Islam with beheading, including suggesting that life would be easier for Muslims if they stopped talking about beheading people who refused to convert to Islam.
In another post he referred to an “infidel’s fear of being beheaded” while discussing whether fear of Islam was rational.
The veteran comedian has additionally described Islam as a “mediaeval woman-hating religion”, claimed that it has a “superiority complex”, and argued that Islam does not want multiculturalism but “uniculturalism”.
He has claimed that “traditional British values are under attack from Muslim belief systems” and has used the construction of mosques while discussing what he describes as the “Islamification” of Britain.
5Pillars editor Roshan Muhammad Salih’s says the cumulative effect of Cleese’s statements goes significantly beyond legitimate criticism of Islam.
“There is a legitimate and important distinction between criticising Islamic beliefs and spreading sweeping misinformation about Muslims and their religion,” he said. “Cleese has repeatedly crossed that line.”
Salih also highlighted Cleese’s political interventions.
Cleese has publicly backed Restore Britain MP Rupert Lowe, recently saying: “I trust this man more than any of the other leaders.”
He has also interacted with and amplified material associated with Tommy Robinson, one of Britain’s most prominent anti-Muslim activists.
The current John Cleese and the Holy Grail UK tour dates are:
- Tue 1 Sep – The Anvil, Basingstoke
- Wed 2 Sep – Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells
- Thu 3 Sep – Corn Exchange, Cambridge
- Sat 5 Sep – Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes
- Sun 6 Sep – Buxton Opera House, Buxton
- Mon 7 Sep – Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
- Tue 8 Sep – Grand Opera House, York
- Wed 9 Sep – Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle
- Fri 11 Sep – Princess Theatre, Torquay
- Sat 12 Sep – New Victoria Theatre, Woking
- Mon 14 Sep – Watford Colosseum, Watford
- Tue 15 Sep – Bournemouth Pavilion, Bournemouth
- Thu 17 Sep – Cheltenham Town Hall, Cheltenham
- Fri 18 Sep – Bedford Corn Exchange, Bedford
- Sat 19 Sep – Richmond Theatre, Richmond
- Sun 20 Sep – Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham
- Mon 21 Sep – Opera House, Manchester
- Tue 22 Sep – Leeds Grand Theatre, Leeds
