Cleese says Israeli performances postponed, not cancelled

The British comedian John Cleese, 86, said that three upcoming shows in Israel are postponed but not cancelled, as had been reported.

“I am having to reschedule my shows in Israel planned for later this month following advice about safety,” Cleese stated on Tuesday. “I will rearrange these shows as soon as it’s possible, and I would be happy to perform without receiving any fee.”

The comedian and Monty Python cofounder added that he is “hugely fond of Israeli audiences” and that he sent his “since apologies to all the people who bought tickets.”

A promoter had said the previous day that Cleese had cancelled shows due to pressure to boycott the Jewish state.

Several social media users wrote back to the comedian, asking how he could say he is “hugely fond” of Israelis, given recent posts of his that have been very critical of the Jewish state.

Less than a month after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks, Cleese wrote “don’t ask me to take sides” between Hamas and the Israeli government.

He referred on Oct. 29, 2023, to the Jewish state having the “most right wing ‘government’ in Israeli history,” which is “kept in power by tiny groups of Judaic fundamentalists” and Hamas as “equally fanatical terrorists.”

JNS