English Heritage Rejects Blue Plaque for Monty Python Star Graham Chapman
The decision has sparked debate, with some suggesting it reflects a 'woke' agenda prioritizing ethnic minority figures.
English Heritage has denied a request to honor the late Monty Python star Graham Chapman with a blue plaque, a decision that has drawn criticism from some who believe it may be influenced by a directive to increase the recognition of ethnic minority figures.
Chapman, who died at the age of 48 in 1989, met the eligibility criteria for the honor. However, English Heritage, the organization responsible for the blue plaques scheme in London, rejected the nomination.
Fellow Python member John Cleese expressed his bewilderment at the decision, suggesting that "a lot of these quangos have woke inclinations unrepresentative of most British people." He added that supporters might consider erecting a plaque themselves.
English Heritage receives approximately 80 nominations annually and selects a limited number for commemoration. This year's approved list includes notable figures such as Oscar-winning actor Sir Laurence Olivier and astronomer Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin. The list also features Kamal Chunchie, a Sri Lankan-born pastor active in racial justice in the 1930s and 40s, and Duse Mohamed Ali, a prominent figure in London's Pan-Africanism movement.
Chapman, known for co-writing famous Monty Python sketches like "The Dead Parrot" and "Four Yorkshiremen," is perhaps most recognized for his role as the titular character in the 1979 film "Monty Python's The Life Of Brian." In the film, his character's mother famously declared, "He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy."
A spokesperson for English Heritage stated that Chapman's nomination was "carefully considered" and that "the selection process is highly competitive, with many exceptional candidates considered each year."
Sir Michael Palin, another member of Monty Python, commented that Chapman, who abstained from alcohol starting in 1977, would likely have found humor in the situation. He noted that Chapman would have been "very tickled" by an unofficial plaque that was erected in his honor at the Angel pub in Highgate, north London, in 2012.