'Phobias are for spiders' Ex-Monty Python star John Cleese claims criticism of Islam is 'not racist' Ex-Monty Python star John Cleese has insisted criticism of Islam is "not racist" and he claims phobias are "for spiders", after MP Rupert Lowe - who is carrying out an independent inquiry into sex abu 13 February 2026 John Cleese says criticism of Islam is "not racist, it's culturalist".