Episode of UK sitcom Fawlty Towers pulled over racist slurs

 One of most memorable episodes of one of most popular British sitcoms of all-time has been withdrawn from a U.K. streaming service because of numerous racial slurs. UKTV, a streaming service owned by BBC, confirmed Friday that it was temporarily removing 1975 Fawlty Towers episode “ Germans.”

decision is part of a backlash against racism in wake of May 25 death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee to his neck.

That backlash has been most visibly seen in protests against

In episode, hotel owner Basil Fawlty is seen rocking back when a black man approaches him in hospital where his wife Sybil is readying for an operation on an in-growing toenail, only to find out that he’s doctor.

Fawlty, who is played by John Cleese of “Monty Python” fame, is also seen goose-stepping around while shouting “don’t mention war” in front of a group of visiting Germans after a bout of concussion.

But what's causing particular offense, is a scene involving one of hotel's long-time guests, an elderly major, who uses deeply offensive langu about West Indies and India cricket teams.

“ episode contains racial slurs so we are taking episode down while we review it," a spokesman for UKTV said. “We regularly review older content to ensure it meets audience expectations and are particularly aware of impact of outdated langu.”

spokesman said company wants to “take time” to consider options. Or shows on service carry warnings or are edited.

full episode is still being aired on Netflix and on Britbox, which is half-owned by BBC, without any warnings or editing.

Cleese has criticized decision, describing those who fail to see episode is a critique of racism rar than an endorsement of it as “stupid.”

He told , an Australian newspaper, from his home in Los Angeles, that major “was an old fossil” from decades past and that program was making fun of his views.

While questioning attempts to airbrush past, Cleese expressed his support for aims of Black Lives Matter protest movement.

“At moment re is a huge swell of anger and a really admirable feeling that we must make our society less discriminatory, and I think that part of it is very good,” he said.

removal of episode by UKTV follows decision by HBO Max to temporarily remove 1939 civil war epic "Gone With Wind" because of its “racial depictions."

BBC has also withdrawn its popular sketch show “Little Britain” because “times have changed” since comedy first aired in early 2000s. series has come under fire because of use of blackface in some sketches.