Comedian and actor John Cleese urges University of St Andrews students to vote against Green MSP Q Manivannan in the university’s rector election. Multiple outlets report that Cleese has publicly criticised Manivannan’s remarks on rape and their potential impact, arguing the comments minimise or “understate” the seriousness and psychological effects associated with sexual violence.
The coverage also highlights that Manivannan apologised for the statements and said they were taken out of context. Outlets frame Cleese’s intervention as a continuation of the debate around how the remarks should be interpreted and whether they reflect the candidate’s views. While the reports agree on Cleese’s stance and the central controversy, they differ mainly in how they describe his characterisation of the remarks—ranging from references to the “spectrum” of rape to assertions about failing to acknowledge psychological harm.
