The actors Richard Ayoade and Jonathan Ross today joined a rapidly growing list of beloved entertainment stars that trans activists are trying to cancel.

The couple ‘crime” – according to campaigners – was to criticize a book written by a controversial comedy writer. Graham Linehan.

Mr. Linehan has been a longtime target of activists, who blocked his planned appearance at this year’s convention. Edinburgh Fringe festival. He performed elsewhere in the city.

Last night he announced that he had written a book about his experiences going from being the very famous writer of Father Ted and The IT Crowd to its cancellation.

The cover of “Tough Crowd” features two quotes from Mr. Ayoade and Mr. Ross.

Mr Ayoade, who rose to fame playing Maurice Mosse in The IT Crowd, said: “His genius in prose is equal to his genius as a screenwriter.”

Mr Ayoade – who rose to fame playing Maurice Mosse in IT Crowd – praised the writing

The book sparked a series of now-familiar tweets criticizing those involved in the book.

Mr. Ross’s featured remark read: “A must-read book – funny and absolutely compelling.” »

Fuller versions of the remarks can be found on the Amazon website in the book review section.

There that of Mr Ayoade said: “Graham Linehan has long been one of my favorite writers – and this book shows that his talent in prose is matched by his talent as a screenwriter.

“It unfolds with the urgency of a Sam Fuller film: that of a man who experienced something few people have experienced but who managed to come back, intrepid, to tell us the story.”

But the innocuous comments sparked an online backlash from activists directed at the two comedians.

Bad Writing Takes fumed on Twitter: “LGBTQ+ fans were shocked and disappointed to discover that in addition to the usual collection of transphobes, Graham “Glinner” Linehan’s new book contains endorsement from Richard Ayoade.

“Ayoade has never publicly endorsed transphobic or anti-LGBTQ+ bigotry before.”

Jen Ives said: “I just tore up my Richard Ayoade topless poster.”

Trans woman and broadcaster India Willoughby posted online: “Well that’s Richard Ayoade in the trash, with TERF already confirmed [trans-exclusionary radical feminist] Jonathan Ross.

“What’s wrong with these people?” »

Trans activists denouncing Mr. Ayoade constitute a twist in “culture war” that perhaps no one could have seen coming.

He is married to Lydia Fox, who is the sister of controversial actor-turned-aspiring politician Laurence Fox.

Mr Ayoade was said to have been furious with Mr Fox even though the latter was a guest panelist on Question Time in 2020 and said “woke” people are “fundamentally racist”.

In April, Mr Fox told The Sunday Times he hand fell out with his brother-in-law. He revealed that he was unable to have Sunday lunch at their house for a few weekends due to their feud, but claimed to have since become friends again.

The cover of the book that sparked outrage online today against Mr Ayaode and Mr Ross

Jonathan Ross’s (pictured at the Biltmore Hotel in Mayfair for rapper Stormzy’s birthday in July) remark on the book’s cover read: “A must-read book – funny and absolutely compelling.”

Comedian and writer Graham Linehan performs outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland, after the comedy show he was performing in was canceled at two different venues.

Mr Fox said: “[He] was furious. He told me that I had never encountered racism. I answered. “Yeah, of course I did.”

“I faced racism from black people towards me when I worked in Kenya” [as a safari driver] for seven months. It’s the way we talk to you. Racism can be deferential.

This series of book quotes is the latest in a seemingly endless series of attempts by trans activists on Twitter to cancel high-profile figures.

Former Moloko singer Roisin Murphy was the most recent to write a Facebook post expressing concerns about the use of puberty blockers on children and how pharmaceutical companies were profiting from these treatments.

It sparked a storm in some quarters of society and prompted a heartbreaking apology from Ms Murphy.

Her record label Ninja Tunes has reportedly stopped promoting her new album Hit Parade and has seen two launch concerts cancelled.

The BBC also abandoned an evening of its music scheduled on 6 Music without any explanation.

Róisín Murphy, pictured here at Connect Festival 2023, was targeted by trans activists over comments she made on her private Facebook page calling puberty blockers “f*****”

The 50-year-old singer returned to Twitter to promote her new album after the social media storm

But efforts to pillory her backfired spectacularly as fans bought her new record in greater numbers than ever.

Ms Murphy scored her highest career entry at number 2 following the controversy.

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Mr Ross and Mr Ayoade over these latest online criticisms.

Spokespeople for Mr Ayoade declined to comment; those for Mr Ross had not responded at the time of publication.