Arrest of 'Father Ted' creator Graham Linehan at Heathrow Airport under accusations of inciting violence
Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Airport over Social Media Posts
Graham Linehan, the co-creator of the popular British comedy series "Father Ted," found himself in the headlines once again this September, not for his humorous work, but for his controversial social media posts.
On September 4, Linehan was arrested at Heathrow Airport upon his return from Arizona, suspected of inciting violence in relation to his online comments. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Aviation Unit made the arrest, and no firearms were drawn or used during the incident.
According to reports, Linehan's arrest was due to his anti-transgender views and statements. In recent years, Linehan has been a vocal opponent of concepts including gender self-identification and what he has described as "trans ideology."
Linehan claimed his posts were "a serious point made with a joke," but his arrest did not go unnoticed. His belt, bag, and electronic devices were confiscated during the arrest.
Following the incident, Linehan was taken into police custody and was later taken to the hospital due to concerns for his well-being. His condition was neither life-threatening nor life-changing, as he was escorted to A&E due to concerns about his blood pressure being in "stroke territory" as a result of the stress of being arrested.
This is not the first time Linehan has been in trouble with the law over his online behavior. In 2018, he was issued a verbal harassment warning by police after an online row with a transgender activist.
Linehan is already facing trial over two separate charges. One charge is in relation to allegedly harassing transgender activist Sophia Brooks on social media, and the other is for damaging Brooks' mobile phone last year. He denied the charges at a hearing held in May this year.
On the same day of his arrest, Linehan was also scheduled to face trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court over these charges. He was bailed pending further investigation and has a further interview scheduled for next month.
As a result of his arrest, the "Father Ted" musical, which was scheduled for 2022, was cancelled. The production team cited Linehan's anti-transgender views and statements as the reason for the cancellation.
Linehan's bail conditions include a prohibition on using the X/Twitter platform, adding another layer of restrictions to his online activity. As the case continues to unfold, Linehan's future both professionally and personally remains uncertain.
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