Graham Linehan, the BAFTA-winning writer behind Father Ted, was arrested by five armed police officers at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of inciting violence over a series of gender-critical tweets.
The 57-year-old comedy writer, who also co-created The IT Crowd and Black Books, had just landed in the UK from Arizona when officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Aviation Unit apprehended him.
“The moment I stepped off the plane at Heathrow, five armed police officers were waiting. Not one, not two, five. They escorted me to a private area and told me I was under arrest for three tweets,” Linehan wrote on his blog.
Arrest After Landing Sparks Outrage
According to the Metropolitan Police, Linehan was detained around 1pm on Monday, September 1, after stepping off an American Airlines flight.
“The man in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of inciting violence. This is in relation to posts on X,” a police spokesperson confirmed.
Although armed officers made the arrest, the force clarified that firearms were not drawn or used at any stage.
Following his arrest, Linehan was taken to a police station but was later transported to the hospital due to medical concerns.
“After being taken to police custody, officers became concerned for his health, and he was taken to the hospital. His condition is neither life-threatening nor life-changing,” police said.
He has since been released on bail, pending further investigation.
Tweets That Triggered the Arrest
Three of Linehan’s posts on X (formerly Twitter) have been cited in connection with the arrest:
- On April 20, he 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.”
- A day earlier, he posted a photo of a trans rights rally with the caption: “A photo you can smell.”
- In a follow-up post, he added, “I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. F*** em.”
Linehan has since claimed the ordeal caused severe stress, telling his followers his blood pressure hit dangerous levels.
“I was arrested at an airport like a terrorist, locked in a cell like a criminal, taken to hospital because the stress nearly killed me,” he wrote. “All because I made jokes that upset some psychotic crossdressers.”
Ongoing Legal Battles
This arrest is not the only legal issue facing the Irish comedy writer. He is set to appear in court this month over separate allegations of harassing 18-year-old transgender activist Sophia Brooks and damaging her mobile phone during an incident in October.
Linehan has long been a controversial figure in online discourse around gender identity. His outspoken views on transgender issues have led to bans from major platforms and cancellations of live events.
In 2023, he released a memoir titled Tough Crowd: How I Made and Lost A Career in Comedy, where he reflected on how championing “an unfashionable cause” led to his professional downfall.
Fallout and Freedom of Speech Debate
The arrest has reignited debates over free speech, policing, and the boundaries of online commentary.
“To me, this proves one thing beyond doubt: the UK has become a country that is hostile to freedom of speech, hostile to women, and far too accommodating to the demands of violent, entitled, abusive men who have turned the police into their personal goon squad,” Linehan wrote in his blog post.
As the legal proceedings move forward, questions are mounting about how UK authorities balance public safety with the right to free expression.
Linehan’s legacy in comedy may remain, but the battle over his tweets is far from over.
