John Cleese responds to claim his mic was taken away over a slavery joke

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “You do know the British have been slaves twice, right?” THR claimed that Sloan took away Cleese’s microphone, saying: “I saved a comic whose career I respect”. After the mic was removed, the Fawlty Towers star is said to have continued: “I want reparations from Italy”, adding: “And then the Normans came over in 1066. they were horrible people from France and they colonised us for 30 years and we need reparations there too, I’m afraid.” Pasternack is then said to have told the audience: “And this is why your phones are locked up.” open image in gallery THR also claimed that some audience members found it “hard to know how exactly to take it”. But u do u.” open image in gallery John Cleese hits back at report following his appearance on a SXSW panel The actor replied: “Quite right, Sajid. “But that’s not a good reason to deprive people who do understand irony of a good laugh.” Cleese is releasing a documentary about “cancel culture”, titled John Cleese: Cancel Me, in November 2022.