In the anti-free speech community, the most unbearable form of speech often seems to be humor. For thousands of years, satire and parody have proven to be the most penetrating – and sometimes annoying – forms of political speech. Even with absolute rulers, Hofjoners were often the few figures that a king could challenge. As Shakespeare wrote in “King Lear”, “Jesters often prove prophets.”
In the case of comedian Graham Linehan, he unknowingly became a prophet for the death of not only free speech, but also for humor in the United Kingdom. The co-maker of the British sitcom “Father Ted” was arrested at London Heathrow Airport, reportedly about various posts on social media that criticize transgender activists. The messages were not jokes but political comments.
Linehan ended up in the hospital after he said he was being met by five armed officers who told him that he was being arrested about three posts on X. In an essay published about his replacement about his arrest and hospital admission, Linehan shared that he felt the need to emphasize this. “
British comedy writer Graham Linehan arrested via social media posts with criticizing transactivists
He said that officers interviewed him about an X-post in which he wrote: “If a trans-geidified man is in a room for women alone, he commits a violent, insulting act.” He added that people would be forced to make a scene, call the police or even “hit” the perpetrator.
The metropolitan police of London confirmed that it had arrested a man “in connection with messages on X.” Linehan said he was told that there would only be one bail condition: “I don’t have to go on Twitter. That’s it. No threats, no speeches about the seriousness of my crimes – only a legal gag order that is designed to remain silent while I am in the VK”
The Irish comic writer Graham Linehan leaves Westminster Magistrates Court on 4 September 2025 in London, England. Linehan appeared in the court accused of intimidation without violence and criminal damage in connection with an incident that took place in 2024. Linehan, known for co-creating TV sitcoms such as “Father Ted” and “The It Crowd”, has also been pronounced against the trans-right movement. Linehan was arrested on 1 September on suspicion of inciting violence on anti-trans Social Media posts that he made earlier this year. (Alishia Abodunde/Getty images)
For those who live in Great Britain or other European countries, this is not surprising. The government has steadily increased its criminalization and regulation of speech, including religious and political speech, under laws such as the Communications Act of 2003 and the online Safety Act of 2023.
British citizens are not alone. For years, free speech is not a laugh in Europe and other parts of the world. Comedians are charged in countries ranging from France Unpleasant Germany Unpleasant Brazil Unpleasant Turkey Unpleasant Canada For offensive jokes.
In my book “The indispensable law: free speech in an era of anger,“I discuss how free speech is in the free fall in Europe, where the European Union is on a global censorship of social media, including American companies. The most triggering sound for many people today is the sound of laughs of those who have opposing views.
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In Scotland were comedians against A draconian law That threatened to criminalize a wide strip of jokes. It would allow someone to be guilty of “generating hatred” against a group of people and even allowing arrests for possessing inflammatory material with a view to communicating the material.
The pathological lack of humor is shared by many in this country. In Hawaii, the comedians and others resist a law that criminalize “Recrickless” distribute “equipment misleading media.” At universities, the dominant anti-free speech culture not only increases a generation of speech phobics, but humorless speech phobics.
“Father Ted” co-maker Graham Linehan speaks to the media outside of Westminster Magistrates’ Court, London on 12 May. The Irish comic writer, 56, did not owe the harassment of a transgender woman and damaged her phone. (Lucy North/PA images via Getty images)
Beyond polls demonstrated That no fewer than six of the ten students ‘attacking jokes’ considered ‘hate speech’. Comedians are routinely canceled at university campuses and many will no longer perform at colleges and universities due to the intolerance.
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It turns out that the audience does not want humor that only runs from left to left. The last example is “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”, who not only lost viewers, but also a reported $ 50 million a year with his exclusive alone-left-old-humor shtick.
Ironically, the country that has brought us Monty Python is now George Orwell Mainstreaming. In Great Britain, the reach of acceptable humor is left to the government to decide.
It is a standard that seems to follow the dubious lead of Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart about recognizing pornography in Jacobellis v. Ohio, 378 US 184 (1964): “I will not try today to define the type of material that I understand to be embraced within that stenoze; and maybe. I know when I see it. “
Comedians such as Linehan are left with permitted humor determined by the anemic comic style of the far left or that of the metropolitan police.
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Authorized by such censorship laws, activists often seem to spend more time trying to silence others in Europe than to speak for themselves. Individuals and groups will often submit criminal complaints against people with opposing views. That included a non -repellent campaign against author JK Rowling and others who have opposed transgender policy such as destroying feminist profit in sport and other areas.
Author JK Rowling arrives at the world premiere “Fantastic Beasts: The Secret of Dumbledore” in the Royal Festival Hall on March 29, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
Of course, censorship itself is now a form of release for the humor issue and point of view intolerant. While most sensible people look at Linehan’s arrest with horror, it was a sensation, even fun, for those who use these laws. They show little fear that these laws can be turned against them one day. After all, as Rogers explained: “Everything is funny, as long as it happens to someone else.”
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