John Cleese has issued a sarcastic apology to 'white English people' for the parodies he and the rest of the cast did in Monty Python sketches.
The iconic comedy troupe did loads of gags in their time and poked fun at British culture without raising much of an issue.
However, Cleese seemingly felt obligated to release a statement following Hank Azaria's apology to all Indian people for being the voice of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon on The Simpsons for years.
Writing on Twitter, the 81-year-old comedy legend wrote: "Not wishing to be left behind by Hank Azaria, I would like to apologise on behalf on Monty Python for all the many sketches we did making fun of white English people We're sorry for any distress we may have caused."
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Judging from previous statements about cancel culture, it's not hard to see Cleese is taking the p**s with this apology.
Speaking to 60 Minutes Australia last year, the actor said: "The PC people seem to think that if you make a joke, or tease someone, you are degrading or humiliating them, and this is a complete misunderstanding."
He took particular issue with UKTV, who temporarily removed an episode of his popular TV series Fawlty Towers from its streaming options due to offensive racial references.
But while Cleese is adamant that comedy is comedy, Hank Azaria feels it's important to explain why he feels bad for the role he played as far back as the late 1980s.
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The actor opened up about a visit he paid to his son's school, where he talked to students about the character.
Speaking on Armchair Expert podcast with Dax Shepherd, the 56-year-old recalled how a young Indian pupil told him how his actions have such a huge consequence on others' lives.
Azaria said: "I was speaking at my son's school, I was talking to the Indian kids there because I wanted to get their input.
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"A 17-year-old... he's never even seen The Simpsons but knows what Apu means. It's practically a slur at this point.
"All he knows is that is how his people are thought of and represented to many people in this country.
"I really do apologise, it's important. I apologise for my part in creating that and participating in that. Part of me feels like I need to go to every single Indian person in this country and personally apologize. And sometimes I do."
Azaria officially stepped away from the character last year after realising he didn't want to participate with the character anymore because 'it just didn't feel right'.
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