John Cleese has become embroiled in a Twitter tit-for-tat with Piers Morgan. The veteran comedian and the journalist/talk show host recently dined in the same New York restaurant on separate tables and afterwards Morgan wrote a column about the incident in the Mail on Sunday.
In his article Morgan wrote that “Cleese has sadly morphed in recent years into the worst type of whining pub bore.” He continued by referring to his “unfortunate personality transplant”. When Cleese walked into the restaurant it was an awkward moment. “For the next two hours, we avoided all form of contact – physical, verbal, visual,”
After the article had appeared, however, Cleese tweeted that “Piers Morgan writes that I didn’t recognise him in a restaurant in New York. I did. I just didn’t want to speak to someone I truly detest.” The tweet has had over 32,000 retweets and has been favourited over 40,000 times.
Morgan later tweeted back: “PS. when are you going to be funny again @JohnCleese? It's been a few decades.” to which Cleese responded with: “Piers is now asking when I'll be funny again.'It's been a long time" Answer : "Piers,when are you going to be talented.It's been a lifetime’”.
The former Python seemed to have had the final word when he pointed out how many favourites he was getting on Twitter: “I see my tweet about Piers M is 'favourited' by 15,000 JC twits.Clearly I must insult the slimy,attention-seeking little prole more often.”
Though it is not easy to have the last word when Morgan is around. The former newspaper editor replied: “Glad I was able to make you popular again. >RT @JohnCleese My thanks to Piers M for providing me with my most successful tweet ever.”
Morgan certainly felt he had got the better of Cleese. When @celebjuice suggested he and Cleese get a hotel room Morgan countered with: "He can't afford one". He later sounded as if he fancied taking on another ex-Python too, tweeting: "You want some @EricIdle ?"
Update 6/6/15: While Cleese has refrained from responding further, one day after the initial exchanges Morgan is still at it. On Twitter @OldManAboutTown asked "When are @JohnCleese and @piersmorgan going to kiss and make up?". To which Morgan replied: "I'd rather eat Venezuelan beaver cheese."
