Immigration > Illegal Immigration

Shakespeare for Open Borders?

The world-famous Shakespearean actor Ian McKellen would have you think so. But his take misses a lot.

Jeremy Egerer | April 19, 2026

William Shakespeare is the greatest poet in English history — but if you don’t know English history, you can easily be made to think he’s the worst.

To prove this, Sir Ian McKellen says, in a recent monologue on The Late Show with Steven Colbert,

It’s all happening 400 years ago, and in London there’s a riot happening — there’s a mob out in the streets. And they’re complaining about the presence of strangers in London. By which they mean the recent immigrants who’ve arrived there. And they’re shouting ... and complaining and saying that the immigrants should be sent home wherever they came from.Advertisement if(page_width_onload

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