The IT Crowd: The Shocking Twist That Ended the Beloved Comedy Series

Summary

The IT Crowd's trans episode, "The Speech," undermined the identity of trans women and used violent transphobia as a joke, which has tarnished the show's legacy.

The episode highlights a worrying pattern in British comedy where the trans community is targeted for mockery and ridicule. Shows like Little Britain and There's Something About Miriam have also been criticized for being transphobic.

Matt Berry, who appeared in the episode, described it as "absurd and outdated" and made it clear that he does not share the same opinions as the show's creator, Graham Linehan, who is known for his anti-trans stance.

The beloved British comedy, The IT Crowd, faced a turning point with the controversial episode known as "The Speech." This episode, which aired during season 3, episode 4, marked the beginning of the end for the hit series. Despite its widespread popularity and devoted fanbase, the show's legacy has since been tarnished. In this episode, company boss Douglas Reynholm, portrayed by Matt Berry from What We Do in the Shadows, embarks on a romantic relationship with April Shepherd, a journalist assigned to write an article about him, played by Lucy Montgomery. Initially, their connection seems promising, as Douglas dismisses April's disclosure of her background, stating that she "used to be from Iran." However, the plot takes a distressing turn when Douglas eventually discovers that April is a transgender woman and that her intention was to reveal her past as a man. Shockingly, the episode concludes with a violent altercation between Douglas and April, leaving audiences appalled. This unfortunate portrayal in The IT Crowd's trans episode has had a significant impact on the show's reputation.

The IT Crowd "Trans Episode" Explained

Throughout the episode of the Graham Lineham show, commonly referred to as the "IT Crowd trans episode," numerous jokes are made that mock and undermine the identity of transgender women. One particular scene featuring a musical montage portrays April and Douglas engaging in activities traditionally associated with masculinity, such as drinking beer or watching sports, which intended to humorously depict April as a "typical man" on the inside. While many sitcoms have made jokes that are now deemed offensive, the negative undertones in The IT Crowd trans episode are deeply uncomfortable, distressing, and cannot be justified by historical context.

Although some viewers attempted to overlook the unsettling undertones of this episode due to the main plot, which revolves around Roy and Moss convincing Jen that she had been granted access to the internet by the "elders of the internet" for her Employee of the Month speech, it ultimately sparked controversy. To claim that The IT Crowd trans episode has aged poorly would be an understatement, as even during its initial airing, it was widely considered to be in extremely poor taste.

The IT Crowd Used Violent Transphobia As A Joke

The IT Crowd episode, which trivializes the issue of violence against trans women, received backlash from audiences. Due to numerous complaints about its transphobic content, Channel 4 made the decision to remove the episode from their streaming service in 2020. Creator Graham Linehan expressed his anger and claimed that this violated his freedom of speech, declaring that he would no longer collaborate with Channel 4 until the episode was reinstated.

Graham Linehan, known for creating Father Ted, has a history of expressing anti-trans views. In June 2020, his Twitter account was permanently suspended due to his frequent anti-trans remarks. Linehan has voiced his disbelief that trans women are women and argues that transgender rights oppress women. Given this information, his unfavorable attitude towards the only trans character in the series is not surprising.

The IT Crowd concluded its season following a controversial episode, leading Linehan to lose his initial enthusiasm for the project. Despite several attempts, no IT Crowd American reboot has successfully made it to the screen. While some fans have nostalgic memories of the show's finest episodes, "The Speech" and its underlying transphobia have tainted its reputation for many viewers.

The IT Crowd's Transphobia Reflected A Worrying UK Comedy Trend

The representation of the trans community in British comedy has unfortunately followed a mean streak over the years, despite the overall progress towards inclusivity. An example of this troubling trend can be seen in The IT Crowd trans episode and its portrayal of Matt Berry's character. It is concerning that the episode did not spark significant criticism beyond the trans community, highlighting a longstanding issue within British comedy.

Characters like Babs from The League of Gentlemen and the Lumberjack song in the Monty Python movie The Life of Brian exhibit transphobic elements, promoting ridicule and mockery towards the transgender community. The portrayal of the transgender community in British comedy is highly unflattering and has even sparked parody in shows like King of the Hill. Other TV series, including Little Britain featuring Matt Lucas and the reality show There's Something About Miriam, frequently display explicit transphobia, making them almost unwatchable by today's standards.

While American comedy is not entirely innocent, as seen in the depiction of Chandler's father in Friends, the trans episode of The IT Crowd highlights a broader issue within British comedy and intensifies it through the use of physical violence.

What Matt Berry Said About The IT Crowd Trans Episode

In addition to Graham Lineham, the creator of The IT Crowd, other individuals involved in the trans episode have also expressed their thoughts on the matter. During a 2021 interview with Vulture, Matt Berry, the actor who portrayed the character affected by the transgender character, showed greater empathy compared to the show's creator and described the episode as "absurd and antiquated." Here is what Berry had to say about the episode that led to the cancellation of The IT Crowd:

"I do not endorse any of the content depicted in that comedy. I do not share the same views as the writer."

"The Speech" was released with already outdated content, evident from numerous complaints about The IT Crowd trans episode. However, Berry has since moved on to a far less offensive comedy series called What We Do in the Shadows. This mockumentary about vampires playfully mocks itself rather than alienating the LGBTQ+ community. Despite The IT Crowd still being a hilarious show with several iconic episodes, its reputation is unfortunately marred by one extremely misguided episode. The fact that the show's creator is an advocate against transgender rights only adds to the negative impact, but finding solace in the knowledge that the cast opposes the episode provides some consolation.