Two of the UK’s prime comedy stars, Richard Ayoade and Jonathan Ross, have obtained backlash on social media after reviewing The IT Crowd author Graham Linehan’s memoir.
Irish author Linehan has gone from the author of much-loved Channel 4 comedies The IT Crowd, Father Ted and Black Books into an outspoken anti-transgender activist in recent times, main many within the UK and Eire to boycott him.
His guide, Robust Crowd, has gone on pre-sale on Amazon this week. Its critiques part shows favorable quotes from discuss present host and author Ross and actor-director Ayoade, who starred in The IT Crowd between 2006 and 2013. Different advocates embrace writer John Boyne, anti-trans journalist Helen Joyce, comedian Simon Evans and British TV director Lissa Evans.
Ross was quoted saying the guide is “one of the vital compelling and unflinchingly trustworthy memoirs I’ve learn in a few years. It’s additionally the funniest,” whereas Ayoade was quoted as saying: “Graham Linehan has lengthy been one in every of my favorite writers — and this books exhibits that his brilliance in prose is the same as his brilliance as a screenwriter. It unfolds with the urgency of a Sam Fuller movie: that of a person who has been via one thing that few have skilled however has managed to return, undaunted, to inform the story.”
Components of each quotes look like on the quilt of Linehan’s memoir, which charts how he went from a comedy author to an outcast amongst many circles, successfully shedding his comedy profession alongside the way in which.
The critiques sparked a disagreement on X (previously Twitter), with trans rights advocates slamming the pair for vouching for Linehan’s work, some voicing dismay at their help and others praising them for the general public vote of confidence. Linehan reposted a number of messages in help of the critiques.
Ayaode gained a BAFTA for his position in The IT Crowd. He additionally starred or appeared in Nathan Barley, The Mighty Boosh, Disechantment, The Lego Film 2: The Second Half and Soul, in addition to presenting British exhibits Gadget Man, Journey Man and The Crystal Maze. He has directed options corresponding to Submarine and The Double.
Ross is thought for his lengthy operating BBC discuss present Friday Evening With Jonathan Ross and serving as host of the general public broadcaster’s Movie program. He has introduced The Jonathan Ross present on ITV for the previous 12 years and featured in dozens of TV and radio applications, together with as a decide on The Masked Singer UK.
Deadline has reached out to Ayoade and Ross’s representatives for remark.
Listed here are a number of examples of the messages on X.
