In a powerful and unexpected turn from his usual comedic persona, Rowan Atkinson – best
known for his iconic role in Mr. Bean – delivered a poignant and articulate speech on the
importance of free expression in a democratic society. The address, which formed part of the
UK’s Reform Section 5 campaign, has since become a seminal moment in modern free
speech advocacy, challenging both legal overreach and the cultural climate surrounding offense
and censorship.
Atkinson, speaking to a crowd of journalists, politicians, and civil liberties advocates, opened
by highlighting the fundamental human need for expression. “The second most precious thing
in life”, he declared, “is the right to express yourself freely”. Framing free speech as a vital
necessity – just after sustenance and ahead of shelter – Atkinson set the tone for what would
become a deeply reflective and persuasive argument.
His concern centered around Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986, a clause that
criminalized “insulting words or behavior”. Atkinson argued that the vague and subjective
nature of the term “insulting” had enabled misuse by authorities and had a chilling effect on
public discourse.
“I’m not intolerant of intolerance”, he said, “but I am fearful of a society in which individuals
can be prosecuted simply because someone else takes offense to what they say”.
Far from being hypothetical, Atkinson supported his arguments with disturbing real-world
examples of individuals prosecuted for seemingly trivial or humorous comments. He
mentioned the case of a man in Oxford arrested for calling a police horse “gay”, a teenager
prosecuted for calling the Church of Scientology a “cult”, and a café owner investigated for
displaying Bible verses on a television screen.
These stories, Atkinson explained, are not isolated incidents but emblematic of a growing threat
to open discourse, where legal mechanisms are used to police thought and speech rather than
behavior and harm. “The clear problem with the outlawing of insult”, he argued, “is that too
many things can be interpreted as such”.
As a veteran of political and religious satire – most notably on the sketch show Not the Nine
O’Clock News – Atkinson stressed that offense is an inevitable consequence of freedom of
expression. Comedy, commentary, criticism, and even crude remarks play a critical role in
challenging norms and promoting discussion.
He acknowledged the discomfort that free expression can sometimes cause but emphasized that
silencing offensive voices only erodes society’s resilience. “The best way to increase society’s
resistance to insulting or offensive speech”, Atkinson said, “is to allow a lot more of it”.
His stance was clear: in a healthy democracy, no one has the right to not be offended.
Suppressing offensive speech risks ushering in a sanitized, fragile society where debate is
stifled, and power goes unchecked.
Atkinson’s speech stood out not only because of its content but because of who delivered it.
Known globally for his physical comedy and quiet roles, Atkinson’s emergence as a free speech
advocate added a serious and unexpected dimension to his public persona. His presence gave
the campaign a visibility and credibility that helped rally support from across the political
spectrum.
The Reform Section 5 campaign – spearheaded by a coalition of civil liberties organizations,
MPs and activists – ultimately succeeded in persuading the UK government to remove the
word “insulting” from the Public Order Act. The change marked a significant victory for free
speech campaigners and a step toward restoring the balance between protection and liberty in
British law.
Rowan Atkinson’s speech remains widely circulated online and continues to be cited in
discussions about the limits of free speech, cancel culture, and legal boundaries around offense.
At a time when debates over identity, sensitivity, and public discourse are more heated than
ever, his call for tolerance of even the most uncomfortable expressions resonates with a sense
of timeless urgency.
“We need to build resilience to speech we dislike, not empower the state to punish it”, Atkinson
concluded. In an age where silence can feel safer than dissent, his words offer a bold reminder:
the freedom to speak – whether to provoke, entertain, or challenge – is one of the most essential
freedoms we possess.
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUezfuy8Qpc
https://reformsection5.org.uk/
https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Reform_Section_5
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Order_Act_1986
Foto di Foto di OpenClipart-Vectors da Pixabay (si ringrazia)
