Terry Gilliam Is Not Dead, And Here’s What He Has To Say About It

Rumors of Terry Gilliam’s death have been greatly exaggerated. But luckily, the Monty Python actor and acclaimed director has seen the funny side, even though Variety accidentally uploaded his obituary.

This entire debacle began on Tuesday, when Variety uploaded a story that was entitled, “Monty Python’s Terry Gilliam, Director Of Brazil, Dies At XXX.” The three-letter salvo at the end of the title proves that the post was accidentally uploaded, and the post was just a template that will then be uploaded and filled in at the time of Gilliam’s eventual passing.

According to Stuff , the report began, “Director Terry Gilliam, the only American member of the Monty Python comedy troupe and an Oscar nominee for the screenplay to his film Brazil has died.” You can see the entire uploaded post here:

Terry Gilliam dead? Did somebody press the publish button on the wrong post? pic.twitter.com/LyiB3Z64pR

— Sean Fitzgerald (@SeanDFitzgerald) September 8, 2015

Variety soon took to Twitter to admit their mistake, before then offering an apology; however, they didn’t explain how the post had accidentally been published.

CORRECTION: Variety incorrectly published an article stating that director Terry Gilliam passed away. We’re deeply sorry for the mistake.

— Variety (@Variety) September 8, 2015

Monty Python fans were quick to poke fun at this error though, making reference to one of the most famous scenes from Holy Grail, which saw one character asking people to “Bring out your dead! ” before one person that was assumed dead responded, “But I’m not dead yet.”

@Variety @cforan12 “But I’m not dead yet!”

— Jim Higgins (@jhiggy) September 9, 2015

Monty Python’s Terry Gilliam is not dead. He’s resting… he’s stunned… he’s pining for the fjords.

— Mark Humphries (@humphriesmark) September 8, 2015

Variety has downgraded Terry Gilliam from dead to “merely a flesh wound”.

— Will McAvoy (@WillMcAvoyACN) September 8, 2015

Apparently Terry Gilliam is fine. It’s just a flesh wound and if you come back here he’ll bite your legs off. You coward!

— Paul Bradshaw (@Paulbradshaw2) September 8, 2015

Terry Gilliam uploaded a rather amazing post that poked fun at Variety ‘s error.

The 74-year-old Monty Python star wrote on his Facebook page, “I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING DEAD especially to those who have already bought tickets to the upcoming talks, but, Variety has announced my demise. Don’t believe their retraction and apology.”

I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING DEAD especially to those who have already bought to tickets to the upcoming talks, but,… http://t.co/aTM7rAAqd2 — Terry Gilliam (@TerryGilliam) September 9, 2015

Terry Gilliam actually has plenty of plans for the next few weeks. Not only is the 74-year-old’s autobiography, Gilliamesque, due out on October 1, but he’s also due to give a talk in London on October 7 and New York on October 20.

(Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Jaeger-LeCoultre)