How to Finance Your Ludicrous Divorce – John Cleese Style !!!
John Cleese is furious he has to go back on tour to pay for his divorce.
The Monty Python comedian – who was ordered to pay £12.5 million in his divorce settlement with third wife Alyce Faye Eichelberger – starts his one-man show in Olso, Norway, October 2nd, returning to the theatre for the first time in four years.
But the 69-year-old star isn’t happy, and his discontent is made clear in the title of the production, A Ludicrous Evening with John Cleese… or How to Finance Your Divorce.
He said: “I get angry that I have to pack my trunk, just to go away to make money.
“That I, at my age, would have to plan my life anew to pay her all the money she is to get for the next seven years – well, it irritates me.
“I’d rather have been drinking coffee, reading books and writing. I can’t afford that now.”
Details of Cleese’s divorce emerged in August after a 19-month battle in American courts.
A judge ruled he must hand over £8 million in cash and assets to Eichelberger as well as £612,000 a year for the next seven years.
The payout is expected to reduce the actor’s overall wealth to around £10 million and has cost him his home in London.
Speaking about the ruling, Cleese told a Norwegian newspaper: “I own nothing in England anymore, the apartment in London disappeared in the divorce. But it’s OK, I didn’t like it very much.
“It’s madness. There is no consideration of the fact that we have no kids together, of who made the money in our marriage, or that I paid for a very expensive education for her son.”
MurrayBacon comment:
When we try to take ourselves seriously, most people find it too painful to listen.
John Cleese has more chance of being heard, as people listen for shear entertainment. Under the skin, the ideas are chewed over subconsciously and over time are more likely to be persuasive.
John Cleese is practically admitting that he took the caughts too seriously, so he is making amends by stuffing them publicly.
He is in a position to FIGHT. He has $10 million squids to play with, which is $10 million more than I do.
Comment by amfortas — Mon 5th October 2009 @ 10:25 pm
I like what Cleese is doing here.
He’ll be well aware that the 10 million pounds (over $20 million) he’s left with are more than enough to fund a comfortable life-style, especially considering his age. He doesn’t need to work, and he knows it. So what’s he up to?
He’s campaigning against divorce law, and he’s doing it in a highly original way. It’s this kind of thinking that brought us Monty Python and Fawlty Towers.
Instead of telling us directly how hideous our laws are, and boring us all to death with an avalanche of facts, figures and statistics, he’s touring the world with a comedy show that we all know – or think we know – was forced on him by a greedy, calculating woman who thinks she nailed her man and can leave him to rot while she happily counts all his money in comfort. It has all the essential elements of a situation comedy with a strong social message – only the message wouldn’t sit well alongside all the others with which we are currently being programmed.
I suspect this is why he chose the traveling road-show format, rather than bother with TV or film. He doesn’t have to negotiate what he can or can’t say. He can also learn what’s effective and what isn’t as he goes along. He doesn’t even need to show much of a profit.
I liked his first quip after the divorce was settled: ‘Imagine what I would’ve been stung for if Alyce had actually contributed anything to the marriage.’
Comment by rc — Tue 6th October 2009 @ 4:15 pm
Dear Amfortas, I am not sure why you choose to be beaten?
Are you choosing to feel beaten, rather than to face these irrational dishonest challenges, to protect your children?
Why choose to be beaten, when you can choose your battles, so that you fight the winnable fights?
Maybe the solution lies in sharing and honest negotiation, rather than fighting?
John Cleese has the creativity and strength of mind to fight on his own, but surely even those of us with less mindpower, can put up some pressure – if we chose to work together?
Fight the ROBbers, get on their CASE!
Cheers, MurrayBacon.
Comment by MurrayBacon — Wed 7th October 2009 @ 6:04 pm
Murray,#3, I am not sure of what you speak. My ‘children’ are over 30 now. I have nothing to negotiate about. My comment was about Mr Cleese fighting the courts over his divorce demands.
Comment by amfortas — Thu 8th October 2009 @ 8:59 pm