Stephen Fry probed by cops for blasphemy after calling God an ‘utter maniac’ in Irish TV interview
The QI presenter is being investigated over a bizarre allegation that he breached Ireland's Defamation Act when he called God 'evil' and 'stupid'
STEPHEN Fry is being investigated for BLASPHEMY after calling God an "utter maniac" on an Irish chat show.
Police in the Republic of Ireland have launched the bizarre investigation after a viewer complained that the QI host had insulted the Almighty.
In 2015, Baftas host Fry, 59, called God an “utter maniac” who was “evil” and “stupid” while talking with Irish TV legend Gay Byrne on national broadcaster RTE.
The person who made the complaint told it had been his “civic duty” to report the remarks which he claims were in beach of the country’s Defamation Act.
The individual, who wants to remain anonymous, said he had recently been contacted by police after following up the complaint last year.
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A clip of Fry making an impassioned speech about what he would say to God if he met the deity at the “pearly gates” has been viewed more than seven million times on YouTube.
During the interview, he said: “I would say, ‘Bone cancer in children? What’s that about?’
“How dare you create a world in which there is such misery that is not our fault? It’s not right.
“It’s utterly, utterly evil.
"Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world which is so full of injustice and pain?”
He added: “…because the God who created this universe, if it was created by God, is quite clearly a maniac, an utter maniac.
“Totally selfish. We have to spend our life on our knees thanking him? What kind of God would do that?”
Ireland’s Defamation Act includes the offence of blasphemy and can be punishable with a fine of over £20,000.
A spokesman for the Irish police said: “We are not commenting on an ongoing investigation.”
A spokesman for Fry said: "[There is] nothing for us to say while this is under investigation."
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