‘Life of Brian’ stage revival removes jokes about man wanting to be a woman and have babies.

Monty Python’s “Life of Brian” Scene Cut for Woke Reasons

In the classic comedy “Monty Python’s Life of Brian,” there’s a scene where a male character named Stan declares he wants to be a woman named Loretta and have babies. It’s a hilarious bit of surreal comedy that made Monty Python famous. But now, comedian John Cleese has revealed that the scene is set to be cut from the revival of the stage show for “woke” reasons.

According to Cleese, the scene raised eyebrows at a read-through in New York last year. “We love the script, but you can’t do that stuff about Loretta nowadays,” the Americans told Cleese. It seems that even Monty Python is not immune to the cancel culture.

When “Life of Brian” came out in 1979, it faced an onslaught from the Catholic Church. But that might be a simple foe when weighed against the LGBTQ+ community. Cleese has grumbled before about the plight of the modern comedian. “A lot of comedians now are sitting there and when they think of something, they say something like, ‘Can I get away with it?'” he said. “And that’s the death of creativity.”

The Scene

For those who haven’t seen the scene, here’s a transcript:

Judith: I do feel, Reg, that any anti-imperialist group like ours must reflect such a divergence of interests within its power base.

Reg: Agree. Francis?

Francis: Yeah, I think Judith’s point of view is very valid, Reg. Provided the movement never forgets that it is the unalienable right of every man —

Stan: Or woman.

Francis: Or woman to rid himself —

Stan: Or herself.

Francis: Or herself.

Reg: Agreed.

Francis: Thank you, brother.

Stan: Or sister.

Francis: Or sister. Where was I?

Reg: I think you finished.

Francis: Oh, all right.

Reg: Furthermore, it is the birthright of every man —

Stan: Or woman.

Reg: Why don’t you shut up about women, Stan, you’re putting us off.

Stan: Women have a perfect right to play a part in our movement, Reg.

Francis: Why you always on about women, Stan?

Stan: I want to be one.

Reg: What?

Stan: I want to be a woman. From now on, I want you all to call me Loretta.

Reg: What?

Stan: It’s my right as a man.

Judith: Why do you want to be Loretta, Stan?

Stan: I want to have babies.

Reg: You want to have babies?!

Stan: It’s every man’s right to have babies if he wants them.

Reg: But you can’t have babies!

Stan: Don’t you oppress me.

Reg: I’m not oppressing you, Stan. You haven’t got a womb. Where’s the fetus going to gestate? You gonna keep it in a box?

Judith: Here, I’ve got an idea. Suppose you agree that he can’t actually have babies not having a womb, which is nobody’s fault, not even the Romans, but that he can have the right to have babies.

Francis: Good idea, Judith. We shall fight the oppressors for your right to have babies, brother — sister. Sorry.

Reg: What’s the point? What’s the point of fighting his right to have babies when he can’t have babies?

Francis: It is symbolic of our struggle against oppression.

Reg: Symbolic of his struggle against reality.

As the boys of Monty Python have always said: “Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!”

The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Joseph Curl has covered politics for 35 years, including 12 years as White House correspondent for a national newspaper. He was also the a.m. editor of the Drudge Report for four years. Send tips to [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @josephcurl.