Father Ted’s Graham Linehan Arrested At Heathrow Over Transgender Posts: Uk Free Speech Row

Irish drama writer Graham Linehan, champion known for Father Ted and The IT Crowd, was arrested astatine Heathrow Airport connected September 1 aft arriving from Arizona.

The Metropolitan Police said a man successful his 50s was detained “on suspicion of inciting violence” successful narration to societal media posts made connected X successful April.

Linehan, 57, said he was intercepted by 5 equipped officers, taken to a compartment and questioned.

Writing connected Substack, he said, “The infinitesimal I stepped disconnected nan level astatine Heathrow, 5 equipped constabulary officers were waiting. Not one, not two—five. They escorted maine to a backstage area and told maine I was nether apprehension for 3 tweets. In a state wherever paedophiles flight sentencing, wherever weapon crime is retired of control, wherever women are assaulted and harassed each clip they stitchery to speak, nan authorities had mobilised 5 equipped officers to apprehension a drama writer for this tweet (and no, I committedness you, I americium not making this up.

He past posted a snippet of nan tweet that reads, “If a trans-identified antheral is successful a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, telephone nan cops and if each other fails, punch him successful nan balls.”

(8:02 AM · Apr 20, 2025 · 136K Views)

According to AP News, Linehan has besides been banned from posting connected X arsenic portion of his bail conditions. He is owed successful tribunal connected September 4, successful a abstracted lawsuit wherever he denies harassing Sophia Brooks, 18, a transgender activist, connected societal media. He is besides accused of damaging her telephone during nan “Battle of Ideas” convention successful London, October 2024.

Political and nationalist backlash complete transgender speech

The apprehension has triggered a activity of debate.

Harry Potter writer JK Rowling posted connected X, “What nan f*** has nan UK become? This is totalitarianism. Utterly deplorable.” Elon Musk reposted her message, adding, “Police state.”

Former protector justness caput Robert Jenrick branded nan incident “ridiculous and a complete discarded of constabulary time” (Cited by Sky News). Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he would raise nan lawsuit erstwhile testifying earlier nan US House Judiciary Committee this week.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting added, “The authorities would alternatively spot constabulary connected nan streets alternatively than policing tweets.”

Downing Street refused to remark connected nan lawsuit directly.

The Atlantic noted that Linehan, erstwhile celebrated for surreal sitcoms, is now amended known for “his online crusade against transgender activism,” comparing his X provender to Libs of TikTok for “cherry-picking videos of criminals and fetishists successful a full-scale battle connected ‘gender ideology.’”

The portion by Helen Lewis based on that Britain’s consequence reflects a broader European issue, wherever “with nan bully volition of protecting minorities, [governments] enacted highly illiberal hate-speech and harassment laws.” It cited cases specified arsenic a man convicted for burning a Quran, and Lucy Connolly, jailed complete a station deleted aft past summer’s riots – raising concerns astir two-tier justice.

It besides highlighted a double-standard: successful 2023, trans activistic Sarah Jane Baker told a rally: “If you spot a TERF, punch them successful nan f**ing face.” She was acquitted erstwhile a magistrate ruled she “wanted nan publicity.” Lewis asked, “If Baker was not convicted, why resistance nan drama writer [Linehan] done nan ineligible process for a little inflammatory remark?”

“I don’t want to downplay nan truth that Linehan has a history of engagement successful petty, grubby, and wearisome net arguments. (And I opportunity this arsenic a frequent target of his rage.) But free-speech martyrs are often for illustration this: difficult to sympathize with, aliases difficult to defend. Open statement is often obnoxious, upsetting, aliases rude. But nary of these adjectives should make it a constabulary matter.”

The wider transgender statement successful Britain

The contention comes conscionable months aft nan UK Supreme Court ruled that “woman” nether equality rule refers to biologic sex, excluding transgender women from women-only spaces specified arsenic infirmary wards, prisons and sports teams.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission said nan ruling would require caller guidance crossed schools, hospitals and sports clubs. Campaigners connected some sides called nan determination a landmark — women’s authorities groups celebrated, while trans authorities organisations condemned it arsenic discriminatory.

A December 2024 YouGov study recovered that 48 per cent of Britons opposed legally changing gender. On sports, 74 per cent opposed trans women competing successful women’s competitions.

Linehan’s apprehension underscores nan progressively polarised conflict betwixt free reside and transgender rights. Many EU countries look akin debates connected single-sex spaces, policing priorities, and online expression.

Whether this is simply a basal measurement to protect susceptible groups aliases an overreach into censorship will apt predominate governmental statement successful nan UK, Europe, and nan remainder of nan world.

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