Graham Norton shown support after deleting Twitter

Sam Moore
Updated ·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
<span class="caas-xray-inline-tooltip"><span class="caas-xray-inline caas-xray-entity caas-xray-pill rapid-nonanchor-lt" data-entity-id="Graham_Norton" data-ylk="cid:Graham_Norton;pos:1;elmt:wiki;sec:pill-inline-entity;elm:pill-inline-text;itc:1;cat:MediaPersonality;" tabindex="0" aria-haspopup="dialog"><a href="https://search.yahoo.com/search?p=Graham%20Norton" data-i13n="cid:Graham_Norton;pos:1;elmt:wiki;sec:pill-inline-entity;elm:pill-inline-text;itc:1;cat:MediaPersonality;" tabindex="-1" data-ylk="slk:Graham Norton;cid:Graham_Norton;pos:1;elmt:wiki;sec:pill-inline-entity;elm:pill-inline-text;itc:1;cat:MediaPersonality;" class="link ">Graham Norton</a></span></span> recently deleted his Twitter account. (BBC)

Graham Norton has received an outpouring of support after becoming embroiled in a row over free speech with John Cleese and JK Rowling.

The popular broadcaster and author was subjected to a barrage of abuse on social media over the weekend following his comments at Cheltenham Literature Festival.

During an interview at the festival, Norton said there was no such thing as cancel culture and instead called it "accountability".

Read more: Graham Norton criticises John Cleese for not taking 'accountability' for his 'free speech'

The discussion also turned towards trans rights with Norton saying: “Talk to trans people, talk to the parents of trans kids, talk to doctors, talk to psychiatrists, to someone who can illuminate this in some way.”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 11: J.K. Rowling attends the premiere of
J.K. Rowling attending a premiere, 2019 in New York City. (Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)

After the clip went viral and was praised by many including musician Billy Bragg, JK Rowling tweeted to her 14m Twitter followers that his comments were evidence of “a spate of bearded men… [throwing] their support behind rape and death threats to those who dare disagree.”

Many proceeded to criticise Norton's comments with the bestselling author subsequently deleting his account without further comment.

Since Norton deleted his Twitter, #IStandWithGrahamNorton has started trending on the social network and he has been defended by many on the site.

Programme Name: The Graham Norton Show - TX: n/a - Episode: The Graham Norton Show 2020 - Generics (No. Generics) - Picture Shows: Graham Norton - (C) So Television - Photographer: Christopher Baines
Graham Norton was criticised for his views on free speech. (BBC)

One tweeted: "Graham Norton asked us to listen to trans people. That is ALL he asked. Got a problem with that? Ask yourself why. Why does the existence of trans people anger you so much? I mean, I KNOW why, but have a think anyway. Ya might learn something."

He was also defended by MP Karen Adam who wrote: "Good on Graham Norton. They try to cancel him so he removed himself from their Twitter tirade. A step better than a mass block. Fantastic boundaries. He said nothing controversial but the response to his comments were unhinged. Says it all."

Norton was previously criticised for hosting JK Rowling on his Virgin Radio show to discuss her latest novel.

Watch below: Graham Norton criticises John Cleese for speaking out against 'cancel culture'