John Cleese thinks political correctness is "condescending."
The controversial comic has made jokes about a variety of cultural stereotypes during his career, but admits he finds it ridiculous there are certain countries which are off-limits to laugh at.
Talking about political correctness, he said: "It starts as a half way decent idea and then it goes completely wrong and is taken ad absurdum,"
The 'Monty Python' star elaborated on his point, by giving an example of a situation when his audiences became outraged by some of his gags.
He continued: "Make jokes about Swedes and Germans and French and English and Canadians and Americans, why can't we make jokes about Mexicans? Is it because they are so feeble that they can't look after themselves?
"It's very very condescending there."
The 75-year-old actor - who married his fourth wife, Jennifer Wade, in 2012 - made the comments when speaking to fellow comedian Bill Mayer on HBO's 'Real Time', with the pair also discussing the risk a comic takes if they joke about Muslims
Bill - who has been criticised for his jokes about Islam in the past - said: "[You can't joke about] Muslims. Try that, see what your Twitter feed says."
The 'Fawlty Towers' star replied: "That's not saying that you can't, that's just saying that they'll kill you.
"But the problem is, if you are going to make jokes about people who are going to kill you, there is a tendency to hold back a little."

Sarah Silverman has joked Kate Beckinsale is a "pig".
The 43-year-old comedian made the gag earlier this week, but has since been forced to clarify her comments after posting an image of the pair on Instagram with a caption insulting the 41-year-old actress, who previously dated Sarah's current boyfriend Michael Sheen.
Sharing the snap from the American Music Awards, she wrote: "I can't believe my boyfriend ever dated this PIG."
However, following numerous comments from shocked fans on the social networking site, she clarified that the statement was made in jest, with the 'Underworld' actress even encouraging her to post it.
She wrote: "My last tweet may have seemed mean but it's not bc 1) it's HILARIOUS 2) Kate told me to tweet it 3) she's funnier than all y'all xo , (sic)."
The 'Wreck-It Ralph' star - who began dating the actor and director in January - praised her beau's "beautiful" ex earlier this year, insisting his former love interests made her feel even more thrilled about dating the hunk.
In an interview on Howard Stern's Sirius XM radio show, the 'Masters of Sex' star said: "It's more like, 'Look at all these beautiful women and he loves me. It's more like that, like 'Wow!'"
Sarah - who was previously in a relationship with comedian Jimmy Kimmel - added she has no problem with her lover seeing his former flame, whom he has 15-year-old daughter Lily Mo Sheen with, as she is always making her laugh.
She gushed: "I love her. She's hilarious...She's really really cool. They're really funny together."

Russell Brand has joked he doesn't know who Katy Perry is.
The 39-year-old actor made the playful remark about his former wife during a television appearance in which he spoke to children about who their ideal Thanksgiving dinner guests would be, with one girl naming the 'This Is How We Do' singer as the person she'd most like to join for the festive meal.
Responding to the choice, the comedian said: "Katy Perry? I don't know who that is."
Later in the clip, Russell referred to the incident again, jokingly calling the comment "hurtful."
He said: "Thanks to these genuine Americans, I Russell Brand, an Englishman - and the hurtful mention of my ex-wife - I Russell Brand now have a much better understanding of Thanksgiving traditions."
In the segment on 'Live! With Kelly and Michael', the 'Despicable Me 2' star also teased another child who suggested 'Love Me Harder' hitmaker Ariana Grande would be their guest of choice.
When challenged as to who the singer is, he said: "I know who Ariana Grande is! Ariana Grande was the first pilgrim who invented Thanksgiving, yes he was. And Ariana Grande, he travelled in from Boston, he strangled a turkey, and that's how Thanksgiving was invented."
Russell and Katy were married for just 14 months before splitting in December 2011, but in an interview last month, the actor explained he has fond memories of the time they spent together.
Speaking on the Today Show, he said: "I really enjoyed it [our marriage]. Katy Perry is an amazing person."

The first trailer for 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' has been released.
The short clip features snippets from the film including shots of Stormtroopers and a spherical droid, as well as the iconic Millennium Falcon spacecraft.
The teaser begins with a voiceover saying, "There's been an awakening, have you felt it?" before the action-packed sequence begins.
Towards the end of the video, a new type of lightsaber which features a crossbar is also revealed as a hooded figure pulls out the weapon in a snowy forest. The weaponry progression follows innovations in previous films, including the double-edged lightsaber in 'Star Wars - The Phantom Menace'.
Towards the end of the video, viewers are treated to the return of the lightsaber
Earlier this year, cast members from the original trilogy of films confirmed they would be returning to the franchise, with Mark Hamil reprising his role as Luke Skywalker and 'Indiana Jones' actor Harrison Ford and 'When Harry Met Sally...' actress Carrie Fisher also returning to play Hans Solo and Leia.
Directed by 'Star Trek' filmmaker J.J. Abrams, the movie will revisit the George Lucas saga thirty years after the 1983 film 'Star Wars: Return of the Jedi'.
The film - which won't be released until December 18 2015 - is expected to break records when it hits screens due to the huge success of the original movies which were released during the 1970s and 1980s, as well as the trio of prequel movies in 1999, 2002 and 2005.

Katie Holmes thinks she is a "risk-taker".
The 35-year-old actress enjoys challenging herself with risky film roles as she revealed her love of "adventure".
When asked if she is as adventurous as her character in the film 'Miss Meadows' - in which she plays a vigilante elementary school teacher - Katie told the new issue of Loaded magazine: "I think as an artist, I am, absolutely. We are risk-takers and curious people and always interested in something we don't know about."
Katie - who was married to Tom Cruise for five years until 2012 and has eight-year-old daughter, Suri, with the actor - was full of praise for her 65-year-old co-star Meryl Streep, who plays the Chief Elder in the dsytopian flick based on the novel of the same name by Lois Lowry.
Katie gushed: "[Meryl is] kind and elegant an everything you would imagine and more."

Nick Lachey is not "in contact at all" with his ex-wife Jessica Simpson.
The former 98 Degrees singer no longer talks to his former flame, who he dated for five years, following their split in 2005.
When asked if he is still on speaking terms with Jessica - who is mother to Maxwell, two, and 16-month-old Ace with her former NFL player husband Eric Johnson, whom she married in July 2014 - Nick replied: "No, no. We don't stay in contact at all."
Shortly after their wedding, Nick and Jessica starred in the MTV show 'Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica' which documented their life as a newly married couple.
However, the 41-year-old star has ruled out the possibility of returning to reality television with his wife Vanessa Minnillo, 34 - who is expecting a baby girl - and their two-year-old son Camden.
He told RadarOnline.com: "I would never do the kind of show [like] I had done previously."
Despite his protestations, 'The Soundtrack of My Life' hitmaker is currently working on a reality show with his brother Drew Lachey, which follows them back to their hometown in Cincinnati, Ohio as they attempt to open a sports bar.
Nick shared: "We thought it was a great opportunity to kind of document these two guys going back home to their home town, who clearly don't much about opening a restaurant."

Olly Murs' girlfriend has changed his life.
The 'Wrapped Up' hitmaker first met model Francesca Thomas one and a half years ago and admits that he fell for her instantly.
He said: "In every relationship, there are ups and downs but all in all, it's going very well between us."
When asked if she'd changed his life, he added: "Yes, of course. I now just have to figure out how I can combine my work and relationship. It's difficult because my job isn't very relationship-friendly. There is always something going on and I'm not often at home.
"But if we manage to deal with that [and stay together], it would make me very happy. In no past relationship have I ever planned a future together, only in this one. I really enjoy the time we spend together, we'll see how far we go!"
Meanwhile, Olly also revealed that his girlfriend's best quality is her "great personality" and ability to always have fun.
The 30-year-old singer told German gossip site, Klatsch-Tratsch.de: "I'm always looking for a great personality. I need someone I get along with and I have fun with. That's the only thing that's important to me.
"I don't think I could be with a great looking woman, who didn't have a great personality."

Abigail Breslin has slammed her ex, Michael Clifford.
The 'My Sister's Keeper' actress went on a date with the 5 Seconds of Summer guitarist last year but it seems as though it didn't end well after she released a song called 'You Suck'.
Michael, 19, appeared to confirm that the song was about him, pointing out his tattoos and dyed hair, which she mentions in the track.
He said: "I haven't spoken to her in a year."
The 'She Looks So Perfect' hitmaker looked at the positive side though, joking that Abigail had taught him not to dye his hair as much or it would fall out.
He told Australia's Nova FM: "That's the one lesson to learn."
The 18-year-old actress-turned-singer's video release prompted 5SOS fans to draw parallels between the lyrics and the band's guitarist.
Some of the particularly coincidental lyrics read: "I said you sound like All Time Low / You really don't / Even though you try hard / You try hard", which appears to reference the band's pop punk sound and their track 'Try Hard'.
Abigail also made reference to Michael's 'to the moon' tattoo on his left arm as well as his love of hair dye.
She wrote: "I hate your dumb, tattoo / I wish you'd fly, to the moon...
"Bleachin' your hair / Well I hope it all falls out".

Britain's Princess Beatrice uses organic make-up.
The 26-year-old royal - who is the daughter of Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson - is a fan of her friend Louise Redknapp's Wild About Beauty collection and the former Eternal singer has revealed she often sends her pal some of the range's best-selling items.
And Beatrice will always be fashionable if she uses the new products when she receives them.
Speaking of the collection, Louise - who has sons Charley, 10, and Beau, six, with husband Jamie Radknapp - told MailOnline: "Our make-up is fashion-led. I look at trends, analyse textures, create mood boards and plan for the year ahead."
Earlier this week, Beatrice joined her father on an official engagement in Abu Dhabi.
The royals - who, along with the princess' boyfriend Dave Clark, had also attended the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - unveiled two plaques at the British School Al Khubairat, where they were joined by UK Ambassador Philip Parham and the UAE's culture minister and met with pupils and staff.

Boy George is "devastated" Culture Club have postponed their tour.
The 'Karma Chameleon' group axed a string of comeback shows in both the US and UK after the singer was diagnosed with a throat problem that would have meant irreparable damage if he had continued to sing, and though he didn't want to take the "risk", George admits he is still upset to have had to put the gigs on hold.
He said: "I've got a polyp on my vocal chords. The doctor tells me singing would cause irreparable damage, and that's not a risk I am prepared to take.
"He put a camera down my throat, and it transpired that I have an enlarged polyp which has haemorrhaged.
"So everything is on hold until it gets better. I don't know how long that will take, and to say I am devastated barely touches how I feel."
The 'Do You Really Want to Hurt Me' singer had been experiencing problems with his throat for some time but initially dismissed the pain as due to tiredness.
He admitted to the Daily Mail newspaper: "I'd been having trouble with my voice for some months, but in true British fashion I ignored it, thinking the problem might just be tiredness, hoping it would go away."

Ray and Dave Davies have been recording together.
The Kinks disbanded in 1996 partly due to creative tension between the pair, and though guitarist Dave has said he is concerned a reunion show would only focus on his singer brother, Ray "doesn't understand" his worries.
He said: "I don't understand what that's about. If we do a Kinks show, we're the Kinks. Ray stands on the right of the stage and Dave stands on the left.
"Look, my brother is very intelligent. He's a good writer. We actually put down a few demos last Christmas. He came to see me, and he played me a couple of new songs."
Asked if there is any chance of a tour, the 'Waterloo Sunset' singer admitted it might be difficult because he is working with the group's former drummer Mick Avory, who also doesn't get along with Ray.
Asked if there will be a tour, he told Rolling Stone magazine: "I can't think that far forward. Over the years, I've been doing a few new tracks with Mick, our original drummer. You know about the war between Dave and Mick.
"I don't work for the United Nations. I'm just a musician. I had a drink with Mick last week, and I asked, 'What happened to you guys?'
"They shared a house in the 1960s. I think some things went on there that created a rivalry."

Idris Elba says there's a "line to be drawn" when it comes to violence against women on television.
The 42-year-old actor stars as troubled detective John Luther in the BBC crime drama 'Luther', but he's confessed he puts a lot of thought into taking on certain roles as he doesn't want to cross the line.
He said: "There is a line to be drawn about violence on TV, especially against women, and I am definitely sensitive to it.
"Deciding on a role takes careful consideration from me.
"The rules for me are that I want to entertain and I want to keep the audience guessing but I always consider the impact of storylines, too."
The 'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom' star feels especially committed to ensuring 'Luther' doesn't become too offensive as he's also the associate producer.
He told The Sun newspaper: "As a producer you fear that you are sending a message out there. That said, we have to remind ourselves we are making escapism TV based on a thrill ride."
And Idris has admitted he's feeling the pressure ahead of filming for the upcoming two-part mini-series - which promises to be as brutal as the past three series - in the New Year.
He added: "I'm a bit nervous about going back to do it. And we've just announced there is going to be an American 'Luther' - the pressure is on to get that right."