Eric Idle Absent From ‘Monty Python’ Reunion Dinner With John Cleese

Monty Python’s Eric Idle and John Cleese have hardly gotten along for years, with both actors frequently arguing on social media. In February, Eric took to X, formerly Twitter, accusing his group member’s daughter, Holly Gilliam, of ruining the trope’s finances.

Eric noted that he and his longtime partners Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin “own everything we ever made in Python,” adding that Gilliam’s daughter is now causing “income streams to tail off so disastrously.” He also took a shot at Gilliam himself, saying one of him was “bad enough.”

More behind the Monty Python feud

Eric continued with his rant and confirmed his exit from the Pythons after a fan suggested a “Python hologram show” to make their money back. “I’m doing no more Python. I gave already. Ungrateful bastards,” he fumed. Cleese, whom Eric claimed to have not seen for seven years, soon joined the conversation to defend Gilliam’s daughter.

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Having worked with Holly for a decade, Cleese considers her “very efficient, clear-minded, hard-working, and pleasant to have dealings with,” and he took care to note that Palin and Gilliam share the same sentiment. About Eric, Cleese responded by saying they have “always loathed and despised each other, but it’s only recently that the truth has begun to emerge.”

As Palin turned 81 last week, Cleese and Gilliam joined him for dinner at some cafe on the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. Cleese shared a cheerful photo from the reunion to his social media, with the caption, “An 18 foot Python celebrates Pallin’s 181st Birthday and 195th Travel Book.” Eric was undeniably absent from the group, causing fans to question his continued involvement.

Cleese later clarified his previous claims about loathing Eric, saying most publications got the joke “totally wrong.” Eric later made a lighthearted post about Cleese being “funny” and “hilarious” in response to an X user. However, some fans took Cleese’s side and accused Eric of being “critical” only because of financial issues. “You say you don’t care if you’re not wealthy, but all of the bitterness began when you lost your wealth,” someone clapped back.