Theater Cut Ties With Monty Python Star For Recommending Dave Chappelle Special To Fans, Actor Says

A London theater cut ties with Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame after the actor and director promoted Dave Chappelle’s latest comedy special on Facebook, Gilliam said Monday.

Gilliam had partnered with The Old Vic in London to put on his production of “Into The Woods,” a musical based on the plot lines of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales. But the theater canceled the production on November 1 after a number of complainants accused Gilliam of endorsing transphobic views by recommending Chappelle’s special.

Gilliam announced on Monday that he had found a new venue for the production in the city of Bath.

“I want to let you know that our production of Into The Woods has found a beautiful and welcoming new home, the Theatre Royal in Bath. The show will open August 19, 2022,” he said in a post on Facebook. Gilliam also released a statement on his ordeal with The Old Vic, claiming the theater had lost its “artistic credibility” by bowing to a “small group of closed-minded, humour-averse ideologues.”

It is very sad that a great cultural institution like The Old Vic allowed itself to be intimidated into cancelling our production of Into The Woods by a small group of closed-minded, humour-averse ideologues on their staff, who absurdly, call themselves “The Old Vic 12” … as if they are the victims of some cruel injustice desperately fighting for their freedom!

My unspeakable crime was recommending my Facebook followers to watch a Netflix special by a brilliant and provocative American comedian, and then share with me their opinions. They did and civilization did not collapse! However, The Old Vic’s artistic credibility certainly has.

Freedom of Speech is often attacked, but I never imagined that Freedom of Recommendation would be under threat as well.’

Some staff at The Old Vic had resisted Gilliam’s involvement with the theater since the production of “Into The Woods” was announced over past comments Gilliam had made comparing the #MeToo movement to a “witch hunt.” The breaking point apparently came when Gilliam posted an endorsement of Chappelle on Facebook on October 14.

“I’m encouraging all of you to watch Dave Chappelle’s new show, The Closer, on Netflix. To me, he’s the greatest standup comedian alive today: incredibly intelligent, socially aware, dangerously provocative, and gut-wrenchingly funny. There is a storm brewing over Netflix’s support for the show. I’d love to hear your opinions,” Gilliam wrote.

Chappelle’s special has been criticized by trans activists and progressives for several jokes he made about transgender ideology and his stated support for Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who believes women’s rights are being threatened by transgender ideas.

After Gilliam’s October 14 post, The Old Vic and “Into The Woods” co-producers announced that they had “mutually agreed to cancel the production.” Speculation took off in British newspapers that the cancelation had stemmed from Gilliam’s post, though no party involved gave a reason until Gilliam’s statement on Monday, according to The New York Times.

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