‘Father Ted’ creator criticizes Bill Maher for ‘crank’ comment on ‘Real Time’

Irish comedy writer Graham Linehan has requested a public apology from comedian Bill Maher in a letter shared on Sunday. This follows Maher’s comments during a recent episode of his HBO show, where he labeled Linehan a “crank.” Linehan argued that while Maher was discussing the importance of free speech, he simultaneously criticized Linehan for voicing his own experiences related to his arrest.

Linehan, known for co-creating the British sitcom Father Ted, was arrested at London Heathrow Airport earlier this month after a social media post criticizing transgender activists allegedly incited violence. In his letter, he urged Maher to issue a public apology, stating, “You have slandered me on your platform, and I believe your comment was unjust.” He emphasized the significance of his work on the topic and highlighted its necessity.

Last month, during a broadcast, Maher addressed Linehan’s arrest, encouraging Americans to champion free speech without caveats to avoid a scenario similar to that in the UK. He mentioned that Linehan, an Emmy and BAFTA award winner, was detained by multiple officers after arriving at the airport. Maher noted that there are many people, not just radicals, like J.K. Rowling and Dave Chappelle, who are skeptical of extreme views on transgender issues.

Linehan, in his correspondence, mentioned he has reported on the perceived harms of gender ideology for several years. He expressed frustration that his attempts to advocate for civil discourse on child protection and women’s rights were disregarded, resulting in the loss of his career.

As of now, Maher’s team has not responded to requests for a comment on the matter. Linehan feels that his experience exemplifies a broader issue regarding the state of free speech in the UK. “I’ve witnessed this decline for years,” he told Fox News Digital. “It feels like they want to silence any discussion on certain subjects.”