Graham Norton has deleted his Twitter account after being trolled
(Picture: PA Archive)Graham Norton has deleted his Twitter account after facing backlash for saying that ‘cancel culture’ should be changed to ‘accountability’.
The talkshow host ditched his account on Monday, with the page for his @grahnort profile reading: "this account doesn’t exist" and at other times "Something went wrong. Try again."
Norton’s name began trending on the social media platform as a result, with fans questioning why he had made the move.
Journalist and trans activist India Willoughby tweeted that it is "desperately sad" to see "lovely" Graham "forced off Twitter."
One fan wrote: "So, Graham Norton’s Twitter account appears to have disappeared. What a world we live in when you can’t even say, ‘listen to the experts’, without being hounded off Twitter by vile, unhinged abuse."
Another tweeted: "Graham Norton could not have been less incendiary.
"A plea to listen to trans and nonbinary people rather than crowbar an opinion out of him for a clickable headline is entirely the correct stance. I find it very sad he’s been driven off twitter."
Recently Norton has received a barrage of criticism for responding to John Cleese’s complaints about cancel culture.
The Monty Python comedian has become known for complaining about the practice, which is defined as the withdrawing support (cancelling) for public figures and companies after they have done or said something considered objectionable or offensive.
The practice, which is generally performed on social media, has become a top right-wing talking point.
Last week, Cleese, 82, was announced as the presenter of a new show on conservative media channel GB News, which will be co-hosted by comedian Andrew Doyle.
He told Radio 4’s Today on Monday that he signed up with the broadcaster because it purports to be focused on “free speech” and is against "cancel culture".
During a recent appearance at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, Norton reportedly responded: “The word [cancel] is the wrong word,” he began. “I think the word should be ‘accountability’.
Norton really good here on John Cleese, telling him that ‘cancel culture’ is just accountability, and JK Rowling, suggesting that the media talk directly to trans teens and their parents rather than merely amplifying the takes of a celebrity. https://t.co/arh3H5pbMs
— Billy Bragg (@billybragg) October 13, 2022
“John Cleese has been very public recently about complaining about what you can’t say.
“It must be very hard to be a man of a certain age who’s been able to say whatever he likes for years, and now suddenly there’s some accountability.”
He added to the Telegraph: “It’s free speech, but not consequence-free. I’m aware of the things I say.”
The BBC host was also quizzed on author JK Rowling’s views on the transgender community, but suggested that he wasn’t going to wade in on that as it would be best to leave that to trans people who have experience with such matters.
While the BBC star was trolled by Cleese fans, he also received support for his remarks, which included , with some fans calling him "eloquent" and "one of the good guys."
Singer Billy Bragg, wrote: "Norton really good here on John Cleese, telling him that ‘cancel culture’ is just accountability, and JK Rowling, suggesting that the media talk directly to trans teens and their parents rather than merely amplifying the takes of a celebrity."
Harry Potter author Rowling fired back: "Very much enjoying the recent spate of bearded men stepping confidently onto their soapboxes to define what a woman is and throw their support behind rape and death threats to those who dare disagree.
"You may mock, but takes real bravery to come out as an Old Testament prophet."
A bemused Bragg responded: "Hard to think of anything that better illustrates Graham Norton’s point than the sight of someone with 13.9m followers reacting to a call for a fair hearing for trans teens and their parents by equating it to *checks notes* support for rape and death threats."
Reps for Graham Norton have been contacted for comment.
