Top 10 Monty Python Sketches That Made People REALLY Mad

Top 10 Monty Python Sketches That Made People REALLY Mad

Welcome to WatchMojoUK, today we’re looking at some of the most controversial Monty Python moments. Keep in mind, they were considered quite progressive for their time, so some of these controversies only came decades later.

#10: Summarize Proust Competition

“Monty Python’s Flying Circus” (1969-74)

The theme of one episode in “Flying Circus” was a whacky competition, with contestants having to summarize Proust. If they can’t shorten A La Recherche du Temps Perdu by Proust to being 15 seconds long, they lose. For those unaware, it holds the Guinness World Record for being the longest novel. In the end, the prize goes to an attractive woman. The people it mainly upset were British conservatives, who believed it was mocking traditional British prudishness. Alongside this, they were poking fun at intellectualism and literature, which also upset some people.

#9: The Four Yorkshiremen

“At Last the 1948 Show” (1967)

A pretty common occurrence when growing up British, is for older people to tell you how much better you’ve got it. While it’s hilariously relatable, it’s also seen as making fun of the working class. An argument can be made that it trivializes extreme poverty, turning it into an absurd competition. Usually, the Python’s are usually critical of the upper class, but this sketch seems to punch down. On the other hand, you could interpret it as portraying wealthy individuals playing up their hardships, an opposite stereotype. It’s also been incredibly overused, making it feel like it’s lost the original satirical meaning.

#8: What Have The Romans Ever Done For Us?

“Monty Python’s Life of Brian” (1979)

This scene is one of many iconic moments from a particularly contentious film. It’s an incredibly layered scene, with multiple ways you can read into it. For instance, it’s pretty easy to say it’s supporting colonialism, echoing real-life justifications for things like British rule in India. On the other hand, you could argue it’s criticizing imperialism. The Pythons are saying things like improved infrastructure are used to justify colonialism. Additionally, it’s heavily satirizing revolutionary movements, which a lot of left-wing groups were offended by. Historians may also see it as downplaying the brutality of Roman occupation. Overall, it’s far from the most controversial scene in the film.

#7: Every Sperm Is Sacred

“Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life” (1983)

This sketch was set in the third-world county of Yorkshire, which primarily offended the Catholic church. It’s a satire of how the church views contraception, so it’s easy to see how it upset them. It’s also making fun of excessively long musical numbers, but that part was hardly contentious. Despite the adult humor, when the child actors grew up, they all admitted they had zero ideas what they were singing about. Since its release, it’s become an idiom in certain scientific fields, particularly cloning. Supporters of abortion rights have also proudly sung the song, using it to critique the other side.

#6: Brian’s Use of Slurs

“Monty Python’s Life of Brian” (1979)

None of the Pythons were themselves Jewish, but also never had a history of antisemitism. Their humor is often aimed at mocking organized religion, rather than targeting specific ethnic groups. Still, by today’s standards, throwing out ethnic slurs for comedic value is largely frowned upon. On the one hand, he isn’t using them to insult someone else. Despite this, an argument could be made that it’s endorsing the language, which could easily shock or offend Jewish viewers. Additionally, humor this edgy was more accepted in 1979, explaining why it was overlooked at release.

#5: The Lumberjack Song

“Monty Python’s Flying Circus” (1969-74)

One of their most famous songs begins praising a traditionally masculine profession. Halfway through, it takes a sudden turn, with the lyrics getting increasingly feminine. The joke is the surprise, with the punchline being gender nonconformity. This element itself isn’t offensive, but it’s the negative reactions of the surrounding cast that are. It makes cross-dressing appear socially unacceptable. At the time, issues like this were barely discussed, meaning it initially felt like harmless fun. The humor came more from the situation's absurdity, rather than the cross-dressing itself. If it was made nowadays, it would be a lot more contentious.

#4: Our Eamonn

“Monty Python’s Flying Circus” (1969-74)

At some point in time, every single Python has appeared in blackface. One such instance was in the sketch Our Eamonn, where Chapman appears dressed as a highly offensive African warrior. While some would argue their use of blackface wasn’t to demonize black people, it’s still extremely offensive. Their humor was absurdity, not racial mockery. So you could say it was less egregious than their contemporaries, but nowadays, it’s considered extremely insensitive. These sketches could have been done without the makeup, or they could have even hired black actors. As such, a lot of people will feel uncomfortable watching this sketch.

#3: The Undertaker Sketch

“Monty Python’s Flying Circus” (1969-74)

By today’s standards, this sketch is pretty mild, with the BBC having aired much darker jokes since. The sketch revolves around John Cleese bringing his dead mother to an undertaker, who gives him some pretty nasty suggestions for what to do with her. The one that upset the BBC was eating the deceased, which Cleese initially protests, but changes his mind by the end. They almost refused to broadcast it, insisting the audience had to boo and get mad, which didn’t happen as they liked. After the first showing, they removed the sketch and didn’t show it on TV again until 1987.

#2: The Crucifixion Scene

“Monty Python’s Life of Brian” (1979)

Easily their most contentious movie’s most outrageous scene was the final crucifixion. To many, it’s a staple of British comedy, being a hilarious closer to an amazing film. To thousands of Christians, it was borderline blasphemous. They felt like it was belittling the sacrifice their prophet made, turning his death into what they called a “Jolly Boys Outing”. Director Jones’ response was “Any religion that makes a form of torture into an icon that they worship seems to me a pretty sick sort of religion quite honestly." No matter your stance, most can agree the accompanying song is a timeless classic.

#1: Loretta, The Trans Revolutionary

“Monty Python’s Life of Brian” (1979)

One of the most infamous scenes in “Life of Brian” is Loretta coming out to her peers. It’s frequently discussed in the context of trans representation, with no one consensus on whether it’s harmful or not. It turns Loretta’s desire to have babies into a joke, with Cleese getting increasingly irate. Cleese’s argument mirrors modern anti-trans beliefs, like focusing on biology. Some argue Cleese’s character is the one to be laughed at, not Loretta. The other revolutionaries support her transition, eventually using her preferred pronouns. Regardless of how you view it, many believe the fact that you can see it as anti-trans is harmful.


Which Monty Python moment did you find the most outrageous? Let us know in the comments section!