Possibly the greatest comedy writer of his generation, Graham Linehan, has been arrested by five armed officers – all for posting jokes on social media.
Father Ted writer Graham Linehan said he was arrested at Heathrow Airport over three X posts expressing his views on trans issues.
The 57-year-old said he was detained by five armed officers after flying in from Arizona and told he was under arrest over the social media entries.
Linehan said he was taken to a cell and then questioned over the X posts, published in April.
Let that sink in. Five. Armed. Police. Arresting a comedian. For making jokes in public.
One said: “If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls.”
Another was a photograph of a trans rights protest, with the comment “a photo you can smell”, with a follow-up post saying: “I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. F**k em.”
For the crime of tweeting, Linehan was hospitalised and almost tipped into a major medical episode.
The writer said after questioning by police his blood pressure had reached “stroke territory” and he was taken to hospital and kept under observation, before being released on bail.
The Met Police did not identify Linehan but a spokeswoman said: “On Monday, September 1 at 1pm officers arrested a man at Heathrow Airport after he arrived on an inbound American Airlines flight.
“The man in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of inciting violence. This is in relation to posts on X.
“After being taken to police custody, officers became concerned for his health and he was taken to hospital. His condition is neither life-threatening nor life-changing.
“He has now been bailed pending further investigation.”
This is yet another case which makes a mockery of the UK PM’s barefaced lie that UK citizens have free speech.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer directly challenged JD Vance in the Oval Office Thursday after the US vice president claimed Britain’s stance on freedom of speech is stifling American companies and citizens […]
Vance’s comments also come after US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard condemned the British government for reportedly asking Apple to implement a backdoor in its encryption to allow greater access to users’ data. Apple instead removed its most advanced data security tool for UK customers last week.
Not just Americans.
He said: “We also know that there have been infringements on free speech that actually affect not just the British – of course what the British do in their own country is up to them – but also affect American technology companies and, by extension, American citizens.”
Starmer, leaning forward in his seat, issued a retort to the vice president. He said […] “We’ve had free speech for a very, very long time in the United Kingdom and it will last for a very, very long time,” Starmer told the US vice president in the Oval Office.
That was in February. Apparently, “a very, very long time” is just… seven months.
Starmer can lean forward in his seat all he likes, but he’s still a disgusting liar. When comedians are swarmed by armed coppers for making jokes, the UK absolutely does not have free speech.
“Black Belt Barrister” Daniel ShenSmith breaks down how the arrests are almost certainly a grotesque violation of UK law.
