Irish writer and co-creator of the popular TV series “Father Ted”, Graham Linehan, said he was arrested at London’s Heathrow Airport on suspicion of inciting violence over posts about transgender issues on the social media platform X. The 57-year-old, also known for “The IT Crowd”, was removed from an American Airlines flight from Arizona by five armed officers who informed him that he was under arrest for three posts, reports The WP Times citing Reuters.
According to a statement published on his Substack, police questioned him about each of the posts. In one of them, Linehan wrote: “If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls.”
While being questioned, a nurse checked his health and found high blood pressure. Linehan was taken to hospital for observation before being released under bail conditions. He said the only restriction imposed was a ban on using Twitter (X).
“There were no threats, no speeches about the seriousness of my crimes – just a legal gag order designed to silence me while I’m in the UK, and a demand that I return for further questioning in October,” Linehan said.
The screenwriter has long been a vocal critic of transgender activism on X and other platforms. He is also due to stand trial later this week on separate charges of harassment and criminal damage involving a transgender activist.
London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed that a man was arrested on Monday after arriving on an American Airlines flight.
The arrest of Graham Linehan has sparked widespread discussion in the UK and internationally. The case highlights how authorities treat online speech when it is perceived as incitement to violence. Linehan insists that the arrest is an attempt to silence him and limit his freedom of expression. His upcoming trial on separate charges adds further complexity to the situation. The outcome could have major implications for his career and for the broader debate about transgender rights and freedom of speech in Britain.
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