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John Cleese Pulls Out Of Event Because Of Its 'Woke Rules'

John Cleese Pulls Out Of Event Because Of Its 'Woke Rules'

The comedian and actor has blacklisted himself 'before someone else does'.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

John Cleese has pulled out of an event at the Cambridge Union because he claimed it had 'woke rules'.

The British comedian and actor was all set to make an appearance later this week, however decided to 'cancel' himself after finding out what happened at the institution's debating society.

The group banned banned art critic Andrew Graham-Dixon for impersonating Adolf Hitler and Cleese said the same rules should apply to him.

He admitted to impersonating the former German leader in a Monty Python sketch and said it was only fair for him to be disinvited.

Monty Python/BBC

Cleese wrote on Twitter: "I was looking forward to talking to students at the Cambridge Union this Friday, but I hear that someone there has been blacklisted for doing an impersonation of Hitler I regret that I did the same on a Monty Python show, so I am blacklisting myself before someone else does.

"I apologise to anyone at Cambridge who was hoping to talk with me, but perhaps some of you can find a venue where woke rules do not apply."

The news came as a shock to people at the Cambridge Union, with president Keir Bradwell saying the members were really looking forward to hearing what Cleese was going to say.

"It would have been a really fantastic event and our members are really excited to hear from him - the documentary he is making is extremely topical," he said.

"He's the kind of speaker that would thrive with our audience and in our room."

According to the Guardian, he was due to visit the Union as part of his documentary on cancel culture.

Titled John Cleese: Cancel Me, the comedian's investigation is looking into 'why a new "woke" generation is trying to rewrite the rules on what can and can't be said'.

He's going to be diving into examples of how celebrities have been criticised by the public for past comments or injustices and how that impacts the individual and society as a whole.

Cleese said he's 'delighted' at the prospect of looking at political correctness and seeing whether, in some instances, it's been taken too far.

"There's so much I really don't understand, like: how the impeccable idea of 'Let's all be kind to people' has been developed in some cases ad absurdum," he said while announcing the documentary.

"I want to bring the various reasonings right out in the open so that people can be clearer in their minds what they agree with, what they don't agree with, and what they still can't make their mind up about."

Featured Image Credit: Erik Kabik Photography/Media Punch/Alamy Live News

Topics: Entertainment, Celebrity