Monty Python's John Cleese says wokeness stifles creativity, comedy

British entertainment icon John Cleese said that political correctness has had a “disastrous” impact on comedy.

He made the remarks in an interview with Fox News published on Wednesday, just days after giving a keynote speech at the libertarian Freedom Fest about how to cultivate creativity.

The festival was held in Las Vegas from July 13-16. 

Cleese argued that wokeness had become a major obstacle, particularly for young comedians coming up in the new, smothering climate.

When asked if comedians have the freedom to be funny nowadays, Cleese firmly responded, "No."

The Monty Python member explained that there have always been limitations on what you’re allowed to say, citing examples from history.

“I mean in England, until some ridiculous late date like 1965, all plays had to be submitted to what used to be a part of the palace called the Lord Chamberlain, and he would read it and there were hilarious letters used to go back was saying 'you may only say f--- once,' this sort of- ‘and you cannot say bugger. But you can say-' this sort of ridiculous negotiating letters," he recalled.

According to the veteran comedian, creativity requires freedom.

"But 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. What you have to be able to do is to build without knowing where you're going because you've never been there before,” Cleese continued.

“That's what creativity is—you have to be allowed to build. And a lot of comedians now are sitting there and when they think of something, they say something like, 'Can I get away with it? I don't think so. So and so got into trouble, and he said that, oh, she said that.' You see what I mean? And that's the death of creativity.”

The veteran comedian explained to Fox News that wokeness allows the "critical mind" to take over the creative, which operate “in opposition to each other."

"You can do the creation and then criticize it, but you can't do them at the same time. So if you're worried about offending people and constantly thinking of that, you are not going to be very creative. So I think it has a disastrous effect," said Cleese.

Cleese’s comments about criticism echo those by Australian rock star Nick Cave, who called political correctness “the antithesis of mercy” and “the unhappiest religion in the world.”

“Cancel culture's refusal to engage with uncomfortable ideas has an asphyxiating effect on the creative soul of a society. Compassion is the primary experience — the heart event — out of which emerges the genius and generosity of the imagination,” the musician wrote in a 2020 blog post.