John Cleese Criticizes BBC Decision to Remove 'Fawlty Towers' Episode Over "Racial Slurs"

[Floyd R. Turbo]

An episode of vintage Brit comedy Fawlty Towers has been removed from the streaming service of BBC Studios-owned UKTV over "racial slurs."

The episode in question — originally broadcast in 1975 and called The Germans — is renowned for featuring John Cleese's deeply awkward and rude hotel owner demanding that his staff "don't mention the war" around German guests, culminating in him doing a goose-stepping impersonation of Adolf Hitler. However, it also features a character, the elderly Major Gowen, using highly-offensive and racist language about the West Indies cricket team. The BBC removed this element from repeat transmissions in 2013, but UKTV was airing the unedited version.

"UKTV has temporarily removed an episode of Fawlty Towers ‘The Germans’ from [UKTV network] Gold’s Box Set. The episode contains racial slurs so we are taking the episode down while we review it," said a UKTV representative. "We regularly review older content to ensure it meets audience expectations and are particularly aware of the impact of outdated language. Some shows carry warnings and others are edited. We want to take time to consider our options for this episode."

The decision — which follows a number of shows taken off air as platforms and networks have been reassessing what is considered acceptable in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests around the world — has become a source of contention on both sides of the argument. Some have suggested it merely shifts the focus away from the real points and aims of the Black Lives Matter movement.

https://apple.news/AVc_KkS1wS1KKeB0ph4bJbg

[Ex Lurker]

1. Cleese needs to sit down and shut up nt

[OnDoutside]

2. Why ?

[Ferrets are Cool]

3. You DO understand satire, right?

[hlthe2b]

6. You really need to rewatch the episode. I think the satirical comment underscoring it may have

passed by you.

John Cleese is a brilliant satirist and comedic actor. There is no evidence/justification for suggesting he is racist or bigoted.

[rockfordfile]

13. No

[melm00se]

14. yes because the whole world

is binary...no shades of gray or subtlety

[The Magistrate]

4. This Is Silly, Sir --- The Major Is The Major

A senile drunk who would say exactly that, and couldn't be expected to say anything else.

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. However, it is the N word. Plus another to refer to Indians. Has, for instance,

"All in the Family" survived uncut? The British progenitor of that, "Till Death Us Do Part", has long had problems over Alf Garnett using unacceptable language.

The dialogue is spelled out here, for those who want to know: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2013/jan/23/fawlty-towers-isnt-racist-major-gowen-is (which seems to think that Cleese was OK with that dialogue being cut from a 2013 broadcast, although at 7:30pm when it's always been accepted there can be restrictions on language due to children watching - who'd be less likely to get that the character is meant to be condemned, not copied)

[The Magistrate]

9. The Major Is A Figure Of Fun, Sir

People laugh at him, not with him, and that line is wickedly funny. Both words are used appropriately, and in ways that make them, and people who use them seriously, look ridiculous. It a mistake to treat any word as something on a par with the holy and unpronounceable name of god, utterance of which must be avoided at all costs lest calamity befall the people.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. However, like Archie Bunker and Alf Garnett, some people do laugh with him

and some people find any use of it hurtful unless there's an extremely good reason (eg a serious discussion). I'm not convinced white people such as myself are the best people to judge when it's OK in comedy; at least Blazing Saddles is well known to use it, so it wouldn't come as a surprise (and editing it out of that would affect the whole thing more).

[Dem4Life1102]

5. Damn that's a funny episode

[edhopper]

7. "You started it"

"No you did, you invaded Poland!"

I love that episode.

[GusBob]

11. Oh Boy, I wonder if "Blazing Saddles" is up for the chopping block

?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

12. How the character of a racist man using a racial slur "satire"?

[IcyPeas]

15. Comedians and Satirists are in a different category than

say... presidents or politicians or police who use racially charged language. just my opinion.

that episode of Fawlty Towers is very memorable.

you know what happens when you ban something....

Gone With the Wind is now Number 1...... just sayin'

[tonedevil]

16. I'm a big fan, but unfortunately...

this doesn't look so good.

Link to tweet

John Cleese

I'm very confused about toppling statues...

The Greeks, whose civilisation has long been admired in the West, believed that in the Ancient World, a cultured society was only possible if it was based on slavery

So should we be getting rid of statues of Socrates and Aristotle ?