‘Everyone in the public eye is a bit worried about it’: Graham Norton admits he’s ‘glad there was no Twitter’ during his early career… following a string of ‘cancelled’ celebrities
Graham Norton has admitted he’s ‘glad there was no Twitter’ when his career began in the early nineties, following a string of famous faces being ‘cancelled’ for their unearthed politically incorrect remarks.
The comedian, 58, has presented his namesake BBC chat show since 2007, however previously fronted an even more risqué series on Channel 4.
On being caught out for making inappropriate comments, he told New Magazine: ‘Everyone in the public eye is a bit worried about it. There are so many jokes we’ve done over the years that you wouldn’t do now.
Relief: Graham Norton has admitted he’s ‘glad there was no Twitter’ when his career began in the early nineties, following a string of famous faces being ‘cancelled’ for their unearthed politically incorrect remarks (pictured in 2020)
‘The one I struggle with is when people find tweets that someone did years ago, often before they were famous and dredge them up,’ Graham added, dubbing the trend a ‘time machine of outrage’.
He went on to claim that those who are found guilty of such a wrongdoing should be forgiven, since people change over time.
‘If someone says sorry and that they’ve changed, we have to accept that and move on. It’s one reason I’m glad there was no Twitter when I started out,’ he quipped.
Soft-hearted: He went on to claim that those who are found guilty of such a wrongdoing should be forgiven, since people change over time (pictured in the 1990s)
The funnyman went on to reveal that he doesn’t understand why people moan that they ‘can’t say anything now’, because making a a ‘fat joke’ or an ‘ugly joke’ shouldn’t be defended in his opinion.
He added that the cancel culture trend forces comedians to think of something more interesting to say, which he thinks should be seen as a good thing.
It comes after Graham revealed lockdown has made him realise he is not ready to retire anytime soon.
The author said he had previously planned on cutting down his workload but is now busier than ever with his chat show, a judging role on RuPaul’s Drag Race, a Virgin Radio show and his fiction writing career.
Funnyman: The comedian, 58, has presented his namesake BBC chat show since 2007, however previously fronted an even more risqué series on Channel 4 (pictured in 2021)
Speaking to The Mirror, he admitted: ‘I had this idea that I was going to cut down on my workload, just kind of take my foot off the pedal a bit, and yet the opposite has happened. I’m busier now than I think I’ve ever been.
‘I was thinking I wanted to retire, and then in that first lockdown I was getting a preview of what retirement might be like and not liking it so much. So I started thinking, “Actually, aren’t I lucky that I get to work.”
‘Having somewhere to be or somebody who wants you to show up, or just having a purpose in a day changes your free time, makes it different.’
Busy bee: It comes after Graham revealed lockdown has made him realise he is not ready to retire anytime soon