Jameela Jamil sparks backlash after calling British people “the most evil people in history.”

Jameela Jamil found herself in the midst of a wave of criticism after she described the British people as the most evil people in history during her recent podcast appearance, sparking strong reactions across social media.

The actress and broadcaster, best known for her role as Tahani Jamil in the critically acclaimed comedy The Good Place, made the remarks during an episode of her podcast Jameela Jamil: Unfiltered alongside TV personalities Blakely Thornton and Justin. Regarding how she shaped her personality, she said: “I’m so lucky to have been a part of this show. It was very well written, and Megan Amram, who is one of the main writers on this show, had just written Tahani’s story, so we all nailed it. But I just had to make it a little more ****. They wanted her to be so sweet. Americans think British people are so nice, which is so crazy because British people are truly the most evil people in history. They are Thanos. Britain is Thanos. They owe India $43 trillion. We are colonizing the world.”

Later in the same conversation, Jameela was asked about her decision to move to the United States after leaving London to pursue an acting career. She said: “I mean, I’ve lived here for 10 years, so I’m somewhat acclimatized. I came here a year before Donald Trump took office for the first time. I have seen this country go through ebbs and flows. I was here for the pandemic. So this definitely seems like a scarier time than ever. Overall, I’m probably feeling sentimental, and also that Britain is really bad. I don’t feel as though I’m going back to the kind of race war that’s happening now. Brexit has paved the way for American chaos. They put a stone in the road.”

Clips of the interview quickly spread across social media, sparking a wave of criticism. One user commented, “Jamila, you are welcome to renounce your British citizenship – perhaps sponsor a deserving individual from India who really wants to be here and you can live there. Everyone wins, right?” Another comment targets her broader public persona, “My problem with Jamila is that she preaches. She seems to know more about everything than the rest of us. Ultimately, people who preach but don’t build anything or financially empower families lose my respect.”

Jameela Jamil first rose to prominence in the UK as a presenter and radio personality before landing the role of Tahani Jamil in The Good Place, the beloved comedy created by Michael Schur and starring Kristen Bell, Ted Danson and William Jackson Harper. She has since become a prominent voice on social media and in public discourse on topics including body image, mental health and politics, often attracting headlines for candid comments that sharply divide opinion. The latest controversy is unlikely to be the last word for a character who has built an entire public identity around saying exactly what she thinks.