‘Monty Python’ star John Cleese hit back Wednesday over backlash against his claim that London is “no longer an English city any more” due to the migrants.

It all started after the 79-year-old actor tweeted that “Some years ago I opined that London was not really an English city any more.” (RELATED: Gay Themes Get ‘Monty Python’s Spamalot’ Banned At P.A. High School)

“Since then, virtually all my friends from abroad have confirmed my observation,” he added. “So there must be some truth in it…I note also that London was the UK city that voted most strongly to remain in the EU.” (RELATED: Political Correctness Is Leading To Comedy’s Slow Death)

Some years ago I opined that London was not really an English city any more Since then, virtually all my friends from abroad have confirmed my observation So there must be some truth in it… I note also that London was the UK city that voted most strongly to remain in the EU — John Cleese (@JohnCleese) May 29, 2019

The original comment he made “some years ago” came during an interview in 2011 on Australian television when he shared that “London is no longer an English city” and that it “doesn’t feel English,” per the Huffington Post. (RELATED: ‘The Simpsons’ Are Removing An Iconic Michael Jackson Episode)

Cleese also shared that a friend of his from California asked him when visiting, “where are all the English people?”

“I love having different cultures around but when the parent culture kind of dissipates you’re left thinking ‘well, what’s going on,'” Cleese concluded.

Twitter users lashed out Cleese’s Wednesday post, calling the “Fawlty Towers” star’s comments “ignorant,” “dog-whistly” and more.

When people say stuff like “London isn’t really English anymore” what they mean is people with darker skin are treated as human beings and allowed to roam the streets free rather than being treated as commodities where their culture and resources are plundered https://t.co/IYGIiEYWO2 — Ken Cheng (@kenchengcomedy) May 29, 2019

Some years ago I said something a bit ignorant and dog-whistly. I hang out with people who are also a bit ignorant and dog-whistly. So it must be correct… Whilst I’m at it, here’s another example of confirmation bias for you. — James Felton (@JimMFelton) May 29, 2019

Dear @johncleese, you were my comedy hero until I read this subtle/not subtle piece of racism. Shame on you. https://t.co/VA1gfPEBDE — Robert Popper (@robertpopper) May 29, 2019

the only thing damaging British culture here is John Cleese turning out to be a bigot and thus spoiling the enjoyment of his back-catalogue https://t.co/zPaOLRgMyE — Jon Stone (@joncstone) May 29, 2019

Mayor London Sadiq Khan decried Cleese’s claim in a statement to the Daily Mail, saying,”These comments make John Cleese sound like he’s in character as Basil Fawlty.”

“Londoners know that our diversity is our greatest strength,” Khan added. “We are proudly the English capital, a European city and a global hub.”

Cleese hit back soon after the attacks surfaced online, defending his earlier comments.

“I suspect I should apologise for my affection for the Englishness of my upbringing, but in some ways I found it calmer, more polite, more humorous, less tabloid, and less money-oriented than the one that is replacing it, ” the British comedian tweeted to his 5.6 million followers.

I suspect I should apologise for my affection for the Englishness of my upbringing,

but in some ways I found it calmer, more polite, more humorous, less tabloid, and less money-oriented than the one that is replacing it https://t.co/ZntbORfQdW — John Cleese (@JohnCleese) May 29, 2019

No. Why do you try to discredit me for criticising things I have not said Keep your projections to yourself https://t.co/S61XFoiDEU — John Cleese (@JohnCleese) May 29, 2019