The latest Jesus and Mo strip, called “grail,” deals with a recent series of events in which John Cleese toured the UK, first showing the classic comedy film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” which was then “followed by an uproarious conversation and audience Q&A with Cleese himself, where he’ll share behind-the-scenes stories, wit, and wisdom – assuming he remembers any of it.” The traveling show ended two days ago.
Muslims are objecting to the show, but not because of the movie, since the movie has not a word in it about Muhammed or Islam—it’s satirical about Christianity alone. Apparently Muslims are objecting to what Cleese has said about Islam in recent years. When I asked Grok “What has John Cleese said about Muslims that has angered them”? I got this response (with references, which I’ve omitted):
John Cleese has made a series of public comments—mostly on X in recent years, plus earlier interviews and tweets—criticizing aspects of Islamic doctrine, certain practices associated with some Muslim communities, and demographic/cultural changes in Britain. These have drawn accusations of Islamophobia from Muslim activists, publications like 5Pillars and Middle East Eye, and groups that have called for his events to be cancelled. He rejects the “Islamophobic” label, calling himself an “Islamosceptic” and arguing that criticizing a religion or culture is not the same as hating its adherents. He frequently contrasts this with the satirical treatment of Christianity in Monty Python’s Life of Brian.
Notable statements that prompted backlash include:
- Claims that the Quran or Islamic teaching is “all about killing infidels,” acquiring power, and imposing Islam, and references to “Koranic demands to kill ‘infidels’” or beheading them. He has asked whether the “Islamic intention to kill all non-Muslims” or “beheading of infidels” has been dropped from the agenda
- A 2026 post stating he particularly dislikes Islam because “it demands child marriage, female genital mutilation, the beating of wives, the killing of infidels, the unending promotion of the worst aspects of the male ego, and a complete refusal to contemplate multiculturalism.” He has listed similar practices (FGM, child marriage, wife-beating, stoning) as reasons he prefers other cultures.
- “Like a bunch of five-year-olds, Muslims just want their own way, and will kill non-Muslims to achieve it.” He has also said some Muslims want “uniculturalism” rather than multiculturalism and show little respect for other traditions.
- Warnings that replacing British/Christian-influenced values with Islamic ones would mean “this will not be Britain any more,” and questions about an “Islamic intent to take over the world.” He has described Muslim beliefs as “attacking British values.”
- Older remarks (2011 and 2019) that London “is no longer an English city” or “not really an English city any more,” which some critics tied to immigration and multiculturalism; London Mayor Sadiq Khan and others called the comments out of touch or worse. Cleese said they were about cultural character (calmer, more polite, less money-oriented) rather than race.
- Comments on free speech and satire: comics hold back from joking about Islam because they risk being killed (referencing Charlie Hebdo and similar cases); a “Life of Muhammad” equivalent to Life of Brian would be life-threatening; and “Islamophobia” is an incorrect term used to frame criticism as irrational fear or racism rather than cultural disagreement. In a 2015 interview he said Muslims living in the West have a right to be ridiculed like anyone else, but he would not mock the Prophet.
These remarks led to protests and a 2026 campaign by Birmingham activists (Deenified) to cancel a Holy Grail screening and Q&A, in which they called him a “hate preacher” spreading “dangerous misinformation” and creating hostility toward Muslims. Cleese responded that many “Islamic folk” have a good sense of humor and irony. He has consistently said he distinguishes ideas and specific doctrines/practices from individual people and notes that he faced no equivalent “Christophobic” label after mocking Christianity.
Here is a link to the kerfuffle in Birmingham about the show. A few words from a source, “Townhall,” that itself looks a bit biased.
Comedy legend John Cleese held his “John Cleese and the Holy Grail” show this weekend in Birmingham, but it was not without controversy. Islamist activists and content creators known as Deenified attacked Cleese prior to the event, saying he’s “not welcome” in Birmingham.
“John Cleese, we heard that you’re coming to Birmingham Town Hall to perform this so-called comedy show,” said one of the men.
“For years, you have used your platform to attack Islam, spreading dangerous misinformation and creating hostility towards Muslims,” said the other.
They’re proving Cleese correct, of course. Islam is a religion of death, of killing, of intimidation, and of destruction. It must be removed from the West if it cannot tolerate criticism and free thought.
A hostile tweet from Muslims, who of course have the right to object:
“John Cleese, you’re not a comedian – you’re a hate preacher. Birmingham and its community outright reject your so-called ‘comedy.’ You aren’t welcome here.”
Muslim activists in Birmingham have released a video condemning British comedian John Cleese ahead of his visit to… pic.twitter.com/VwSiwyJJTa
— 5Pillars (@5Pillarsuk) September 20, 2026
A response from my friend Melissa Chen:
Nothing says “we’ve fully integrated into British culture” like trying to cancel @JohnCleese — the living embodiment of British humour and irony — for screening Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
When native Brits talk about invasion and colonization, this is exactly the kind of… https://t.co/wmSHxCm7E2
— Melissa Chen (@MsMelChen) September 20, 2026
And two responses from Cleese:
I’m afraid I gave up being ‘nice’ when I realised it didn’t work for our country https://t.co/Ox4oy5ftCx
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) September 22, 2026
Islam is dead set against multicultiralism
Please don’t forget that
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) September 22, 2026
In my view, this is a free-speech issue, though Britain has no First Amendment and seems more willing than the U.S. to crack down on “hate speech”. Still, Cleese should have the right to say what he wants, and Muslims should have the right to object, though not to block access to his shows or try to get them canceled.
. . . and Mo’s response, which implies that he does want freedom of speech curbed when it comes to crtiticizing Islam. Cleese, of course, spent his career criticizing nearly everything.
Ms Chen’s comment does indeed hit the nail on the head, as does J&M as usual.
I always argue that if you criticise islam then you are implicitly supporting moslems, on the principle that if you criticise a thing then surely you are supporting the main victims of that thing, and the main victims of a religion are the followers of that religion.
I went to the same school as Graham Chapman (King Arthur and Brian) and my careers teacher had been his English teacher: “We didn’t think he’d end up like that”.
(Of course “Help help I’m being repressed was Michael Palin, but I’m sure you all knew that).
LOOLLLL! (ref. 1)
Ref. 1: Cleese, et. al.
The Album of the Soundtrack of the Trailer of the Film of Monty Python and the Holy Grail
1975
In related news the BBC is apparently censoring episodes of “That Mitchell and Webb Look”, a comedy series featuring Mitchell and Webb (of the “Are we the baddies?” meme), as they post them online, claiming they depict racism.
Of course to say the obvious, John Cleese and company are up for dissing a broad swath of religions, cultures, and races. I asked Google Gemini about their breadth on religions, and it notes that MP only briefly targeted some religions like the Hindus. As in from The Meaning of Life, in the song about sperm being sacred. There, Hindus, Taoists, and Mormons “spill theirs just anywhere.”
I hope that Cleese doesn’t lose an eye in the manner of Salman Rushdie.
Or worse.
Maybe it’s just me, but I somehow get the impression that J&M aren’t always following accurately or connecting well when they seem to talk past each other. A good example is in this fourth panel where Jesus says, “powerfull blow for democracy” and Mo calls it “just a flesh wound”.
Jesus and Mo often miss each other’s points, but here Mo is primarily focused on making a third Monty Python and the Holy Grail reference, this one to the Black Knight.
If you knew that and were being sly about it, my apologies for being thick!
Indeed, Mo’s replies are all quotes from the Holy Grail.
Cleese is spot on when he says that ““Islamophobia” is an incorrect term used to frame criticism as irrational fear or racism rather than cultural disagreement.” The accusation is just a dodge, a method of attacking a commentator without engaging with their comment. And to the extent fear is actually part of the equation, it has been clearly demonstrated that there is nothing irrational about it (therefore not justifying accusations of “phobia”).
Like many other areas these days, those who scream the loudest about being insulted/offended are often the ones most deserving of derogation.
Of course, if people believe Islam is the perfect religion, the Koran is the literal, perfect word of God, and Mahomet the perfect man, then criticism of any of this trinity, to borrow a term, is either misinformed phobia or malicious defamation.
Clearly, a substantial number of Muslims do believe this, so the free and sceptical West is, to borrow another term, anathema to them.
OK, but truly believing Christians will also believe in the perfection of their god and religion and, as Cleese also pointed out, criticism of Christianity does not result in howls of ‘Christophobia’. No more denunciations of vile ‘heathens’ (not in the 21st century anyway). Most Christians have reached a point of acceptance that there are many people who disagree with them and will not embrace their religion. They may not like it, but threats and outrage generally do not follow.
Unlike with Islam. I suspect your statement that ‘the free and sceptical West is [] anathema to them’ would also generate accusations of ‘Islamophobia’. The statement may be true, but that’s not the point. Rather, it might be thought to lack adequate respect for and tolerance of Islam. Quite ironic, wouldn’t you say?
I’m 100% with Basil Fawlty/John Cleese on this one. Not only is he a comedy god but he’s brave enough* to criticize Islam directly in public.
HAhaha. I do also but thankfully I’m not famous so probably obscure enough to not get stabbed often.
D.A.
NYC
*Yes, consider Rushdie and the lifelong security Aayan Hersi Ali has to endure. I’ve had long conversations with my editors at 3 publications about how NOT to get us killed.
John Cleese may be justifiably cautious to “not mock the [alleged final] Prophet” of G_d, but needed no such caution in mocking the alleged only Incarnation of G_d and saviour of mankind (whose partisans were very annoyed at the time). Just goes to show, yet again, the relative intolerance of Islam and its hostile incompatibility with Western culture.
Just fo
At present rate of progess Muslims will soon really speak for Birmingham.
Remember in the aftermath of the Danish cartoons, there was a protest at which someone carried a placard stating:
That is as funny as any Python quote.
What about Rowan Atkinson Rowan Atkinson? Did he ever get into trouble? And then there was this one about cutting his finger while opening a can of cat food.