Two of the UK’s high comedy stars, Richard Ayoade and Jonathan Ross, have acquired 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 Ireland to boycott him.
His guide, Tough Crowd, has gone on pre-sale on Amazon this week. Its critiques part shows favorable quotes from speak present host and author Ross and actor-director Ayoade, who starred in The IT Crowd between 2006 and 2013. Other advocates embody creator 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 most compelling and unflinchingly honest memoirs I’ve read in many years. It’s also the funniest,” whereas Ayoade was quoted as saying: “Graham Linehan has long been one of my favourite writers — and this books shows that his brilliance in prose is equal to his brilliance as a screenwriter. It unfolds with the urgency of a Sam Fuller film: that of a man who has been through something that few have experienced but has managed to return, undaunted, to tell the tale.”
Parts 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 dropping his comedy profession alongside the best way.
The critiques sparked a confrontation 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 received a BAFTA for his position in The IT Crowd. He additionally starred or appeared in Nathan Barley, The Mighty Boosh, Disechantment, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part and Soul, in addition to presenting British exhibits Gadget Man, Travel Man and The Crystal Maze. He has directed options reminiscent of Submarine and The Double.
Ross is understood for his lengthy operating BBC speak present Friday Night With Jonathan Ross and serving as host of the general public broadcaster’s Film program. He has offered The Jonathan Ross present on ITV for the previous 12 years and featured in dozens of TV and radio packages, together with as a decide on The Masked Singer UK.
Deadline has reached out to Ayoade and Ross’s representatives for remark.
Here are a number of examples of the messages on X.
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