Graham Linehan, the creator of the popular TV show Father Ted, had his stand-up comedy show cancelled at the Leith Arches venue in Edinburgh after complaints were made about his views on the trans rights movement. The show, part of the Comedy Unleashed event, was scheduled to take place on Thursday, but the venue decided to cancel it, citing that it does not align with their inclusive values. Linehan, a vocal critic of certain aspects of the trans rights movement, had been billed as a performer at the show, along with other comedians.
In a tweet, Linehan reacted to the news, stating that the venue had cancelled the entire gig because of his involvement. He also mentioned that he would find a new venue and was considering taking legal action against Leith Arches. Many fans and supporters came to his defense, condemning the venue’s decision as an attack on free speech.
One of the supporters, TalkTV presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer, called the cancellation “pathetic behaviour” and “censoring the free speech of comedians like @Glinner, whose only crime is to believe in biological reality and stand up for women’s rights.” Linehan was previously banned from Twitter in 2020 for comments about trans people, but his account was reinstated after Elon Musk took over.
Graham Linehan (Via Graham Linehan/Twitter)
The comedy community has been rocked by similar incidents in recent times, with comedian Jerry Sadowitz having his show cancelled at the Edinburgh Fringe venue The Pleasance last year. Sadowitz claimed that the venue had cheapened and simplified his work and that some of its staff received abuse and complaints. The Pleasance had cancelled his show, citing that it was “extreme in its racism, sexism, homophobia, and misogyny” and that the language used on its stage was “completely unacceptable.”
The Leith Arches cancellation of Linehan’s show has sparked a debate about artistic expression and the balance between free speech and inclusive values. As Comedy Unleashed wrote on Twitter, “Is there an #Edfringe venue that believes in free artistic expression that will host us?” The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing tensions between comedians and venues, with some performers pushing the boundaries of what is considered acceptable and venues struggling to navigate the complex issue of free speech.
