Monty Python, one of the most successful comedy groups ever, faced huge backlash throughout their career.
The comedy troupe, known as the Pythons, consisted of Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, John Cleese and Terry Gillam. They shot to fame with the sketch series Monty Python’s Flying Circus, which aired from 1969 to 1974.
The surreal comedy group were hugely famous and are known as one of the most recognisable and prominent faces in comedy today. However, they are not without their controversies, which included one of their most iconic projects.
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Monty Python’s ensemble followed their television series with a successful run of films, including Life of Brian. The movie told the story of a young Jewish-Roman man who is born on the same day as Jesus, in the building next door, and is mistaken as the messiah.
(Image: Michael Ochs Archives)
Due to the heavy religious satire throughout the film, which was considered deeply controversial and blasphemous at the time, protests broke out from some religious organisations. Ireland and Norway were among some of the countries to issue a ban – Italy’s ban lasted over a decade.
(Image: Everett/REX/Shutterstock)
Monty Python used this to their advantage and posters in Sweden read: “So funny it was banned in Norway.” During another controversial filming incident, the BBC forced the Pythons to add boos and sounds of disgust to a sketch that portrayed Graham Chapman as a mortician who eats John Cleese’s mother.
There was another cannibalism sketch too, in which five sailors trapped on a lifeboat who resort to eating each other.
(Image: WireImage)
The group also weren’t allowed to advertise their album on TV due to a ban from the Independent Television Companies Association, who branded them “crude in the extreme”. Of course, they once again used the incident to advertise their album and added the tagline: “Now a major lawsuit”.
(Image: BBC)
In recent years, John Cleese has come under fire for slamming “woke” culture which he thinks has had a “disastrous effect” on comedy. Back in 2022 Cleese stated: “I think it’s particularly worrying at the moment because you can only create in an atmosphere of freedom, where you’re not checking everything you say critically before you move on.”
He said that “a lot of comedians” are considering whether they can get away with saying certain jokes, which Cleese has branded “the death of creativity”.
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