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Monty Python star John Cleese has been blacklisted by the Cambridge University Debating Society, after admitting a past impression of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
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The Fawlty Towers star canceled an appearance scheduled for Friday at England’s Cambridge Union to show his support for art historian Andrew Graham-Dixon after the organization’s bosses banned the expert, also over an impersonation of Hitler.
“I really wanted to speak to Cambridge Union students this Friday, but heard that someone there has been blacklisted for impersonating Hitler,” Cleese, a graduate of the legendary university, tweeted on Wednesday morning. .
“I’m sorry I did the same thing in a Monty Python program, so I get blacklisted before anyone else.”
In a follow-up tweet, he added: “I apologize to anyone in Cambridge who was hoping to speak to me, but maybe some of you can find a place where the wake-up rules don’t apply.”
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Meanwhile, Graham-Dixon has said that he mocked Hitler, did not praise him, but understands why his speech was deemed offensive.
“In my speech I caricatured him (Hitler), briefly, paraphrasing HIS rude and insensitive statements about art and race,” he noted.
“I sincerely apologize to anyone who found my debating tactics and the use of Hitler’s own language distressing; On reflection, I can see that some of the words I used, even in quotes, are inherently offensive. “
However, he responded to comments from Cambridge Union President Keir Bradwell.
“Sir. Bradwell’s implication that I am racist and anti-Semitic by placing me on his list is totally rejected and, in context, surprising. The speech I made was a strident attack on Hitler’s racism and anti-Semitism,” Graham said. Dixon to the BBC.
Reference-torontosun.com