'Posturing idiocy': John Cleese mocks Simpsons star Hank Azaria's 'racism' apology

John Cleese, right, and Michael Palin in a Monty Python sketch. Screenshot / YouTube

John Cleese has mocked The Simpsons actor Hank Azaria in an "apology" for making fun of "white English people" in Monty Python.

Azaria, who is white, apologised earlier this week for his involvement in the hurt felt by the Indian community, caused by his voicing Indian convenience store clerk Apu.

Speaking on Dax Shepherd's Armchair Expert podcast, Azaria said sorry to "every single Indian person", adding that his portrayal of the Simpsons character had contributed to "structural racism".

Cleese was quick to make fun of Azaria's apology, writing on Twitter that he was "not wishing to be left behind by Hank Azaria".

"I would like to apologise on behalf on [sic] Monty Python for all the many sketches we did making fun of white English people," Cleese said.

"We're sorry for any distress we may have caused."

Not wishing to be left behind by Hank Azaria, I would like to apologise on behalf on Monty Python for all the many sketches we did making fun of white English people

We're sorry for any distress we may have caused

— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) April 13, 2021

In another tweet, Cleese, while discussing so-called "woke-ism", said: "Started out as a good idea – 'Let's be nice to people' – and finished up as a humourless, censorious, literal-minded, posturing idiocy."

Apu was a much-loved fixture in The Simpsons, but criticism emerged in 2017 that the show's producers had for decades relied on offensive stereotypes.

Apu was "sidelined" and Azaria announced last January that he would no longer voice the character.