Anti-trans activist Graham Linehan broke down on the streets of Edinburgh yesterday after his planned appearances at two venues were cancelled.
The comedian – best known for creating the TV series Father Ted and the IT Crowd – broke down in tears outside Holyrood as he delivered his Comedy Unleashed show to a small crowd of people gathered nearby.
Mr Linehan, whose views have been described as “extreme”, told how he “lost everything” after dedicating himself to the so-called “gender critical” movement known for opposing the expansion of transgender people’s rights in the UK.
Several fans were seen cheering from the crowd as backlash grew against the Edinburgh Fringe, with the comic having been rejected by two clubs that previously agreed to host his “edgy” comedy group.
He was banned from Leith Arches earlier this week, with the venue stating his views did not “align” with their values, a decision allies of the cancelled comedian have said constitutes a “black mark” on the industry.
Pictures showed a few dozen people gathered outside the Scottish Parliament watching him on Thursday evening, with three cameras recording Mr Linehan delivering his act from a small platform stool.
During his short set, he said he keeps “asking people what I’ve said wrong and what I’m saying wrong” to receive so much public backlash.
The comedian added that he was forced to turn to comedy after failing to find script work over the last five years due to his views.
He has courted controversy in recent years due to his treatment of the trans debate, with his beliefs having been described as hateful.
In 2018, he was slammed for “trivialising the Holocaust” by Eric Pickles, the UK’s Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues, after he likened the use of puberty blockers to Nazi eugenics.
In February 2021, Pink News reported that Mr Linehan had joined “Her”, a queer woman’s dating app, and publicly posted screenshots of profiles used by its transgender and non-binary users on his blog.
Between 2022 and 2023, he said his activism has “consumed his life” in several interviews, stating it caused the end of his marriage, lost him work and led him to take anti-anxiety medicine.
He has denied hating transgender people but said it is “immoral” to recognise people’s preferred pronouns.
His defenders have argued that his recent bans infringe on his freedom of speech, with one supporter at the event saying it was “obscene” he was “cancelled for views the majority of the population has”.
Mr Linehan was banned both by Leith Arches and a second, unnamed venue before he took to the streets of Edinburgh.
In a statement, Leith Arches said it does “not support [Graham Linehan’s] comedy, or his views and he will not be allowed to perform at our venue”, and added it is an “inclusive” venue that would “not allow such views to violate our space”.
