John Cleese has been ridiculed after attacking a “half educated tenement Scot” journalist.
The Monty Python star sparked fury after launching an online rant aimed at Fraser Nelson, the editor of the Spectator.
Why do we let half-educated tenement Scots run our English press ? Because their craving for social status makes them obedient retainers ? https://t.co/uCXEvbZssE
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) October 2, 2016
The 76-year-old took to social media to vent his disgust at a column which Elgin-raised Mr Nelson had written for the Telegraph newspaper.
Mr Cleese posted on Twitter: “Why do we let half-educated tenement Scots run our English press? Because their craving for social status makes them obedient retainers?”
After one of the actor’s online followers called him “classless”, he hit back: “Seriously, I’d rather have educated, cultured and intelligent people in charge. Sorry for the elitism.”
“It’s not casual racism, it’s considered culturalism,” he added.
Despite receiving heavy criticism, Mr Cleese refused to back down and tweeted: “Another one is: why are there no English journalists running Scottish newspapers. Xenophobia?”
Glasgow University-educated Mr Nelson, 43, took the description in good humour.
He tweeted: “Nairn Academy, then a few years at Dollar [Academy] while my dad was abroad with fees covered by MoD. Then a 2:1. So he does have a point!”
Another one is : why are there no English journalists running Scottish newspapers
Xenophobia ?
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) October 2, 2016
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson mocked Mr Cleese when asked about the incident at the Tory conference in Birmingham.
She said: “I think he was talking about Fraser Nelson. I’m not sure how many tenements there are in Elgin, or in the mid-Atlantic, which is where his accent seemed to come from. I’ll probably leave it at that.”
And SNP MSP James Dornan used the famous Monty Python “dead parrot” sketch to rip into Mr Cleese.
He tweeted: “John I’m afraid your credibility is as alive as that Norwegian Blue. Woeful stuff!”
