In a moment that has left millions of Britons reeling, beloved comedian and national treasure Sir Lenny Henry has unleashed a blistering, unfiltered response to London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s controversial declaration that the capital is “much better now than it was 40 years ago thanks to immigrants.”

Khan, never one to shy away from championing multiculturalism, dropped the bombshell during a high-profile speech at Guildhall, insisting that waves of newcomers have transformed London into a vibrant, economically powerhouse city — a stark upgrade from the supposedly dull, monochrome 1980s. “Diversity is our greatest strength,” he proclaimed, crediting migrants for everything from world-class cuisine to explosive economic growth and the very spirit of modern London.

But for many ordinary Londoners — and now, it seems, for one of Britain’s most iconic entertainers — the statement landed like a slap in the face.

Speaking exclusively to reporters outside his home, Sir Lenny Henry, the 67-year-old Dudley-born legend whose comedy once united the nation, did not hold back. “Better? BETTER?!” he thundered, his trademark warm smile replaced by visible anger. “Sadiq, with all due respect, mate — you’re living in cloud cuckoo land if you think flooding the city with uncontrolled migration has made it paradise. Forty years ago, kids could play outside without fear of knife crime on every corner. You could get a doctor’s appointment without waiting six months.

And people actually knew their neighbours instead of dodging past them in the street like strangers in their own city.”

The outburst, captured on mobile phones and instantly viral across social media, has sent shockwaves through the British public. Many citizens, already frustrated with rising living costs, housing shortages, and stretched public services, saw Henry’s words as the final straw — validation from an unexpected quarter that the “enrichment” narrative peddled by politicians no longer rings true.

Henry, whose parents arrived from Jamaica in the Windrush generation, has long been a champion of diversity and inclusion. He campaigned tirelessly for better representation of Black, Asian, and minority ethnic talent in television and film, even partnering with figures like Khan himself on diversity initiatives years ago. That makes his apparent U-turn all the more explosive. “I’m not against immigration,” he clarified, jabbing a finger for emphasis. “My family is immigration. But there’s a difference between welcoming people who want to build this country and turning London into a giant transit lounge where nobody feels they belong anymore.”

He pointed to crumbling infrastructure, skyrocketing rents, and what he called “a loss of British identity that’s left too many people feeling like foreigners in their own backyard.” In perhaps the most stinging line of the interview, Henry declared: “Sadiq says thanks to immigrants London is better. I say thanks to mass migration, too many Londoners can’t afford to live here at all. That’s not progress — that’s betrayal.”

The reaction online was immediate and ferocious. Thousands flooded social media with support, sharing old photos of 1980s London — smiling families at local pubs, empty Tube carriages, affordable terraced houses — alongside memes juxtaposing them with today’s packed streets and crime headlines. “Lenny’s finally said what we’ve all been thinking,” one viral post read, racking up hundreds of thousands of likes. “A black British icon calling out the failed experiment — that’s when you know the tide has turned.”

Others were less charitable toward the mayor. “Khan’s out of touch,” wrote one commenter. “He’s got armed police guarding him 24/7 while the rest of us dodge moped thieves and wait in A&E for hours. Easy to call it ‘better’ when you’re insulated from the consequences.”

Khan’s office quickly hit back, issuing a statement defending the mayor’s record and accusing critics of “cherry-picking nostalgia over facts.” They pointed to London’s status as a global financial hub, its cultural dominance, and statistics showing migrant contributions to GDP. But the rebuttal only seemed to fuel the fire. For many, the damage was already done — a beloved figure had broken ranks, and the public was listening.

Political analysts say Henry’s intervention could mark a turning point. For years, questioning the benefits of high immigration levels has been dismissed as fringe or bigoted. Now, with a cultural heavyweight like Sir Lenny Henry — knighted for services to drama and charity — voicing open disillusionment, the debate has been dragged firmly into the mainstream.

Even some of Khan’s traditional allies appeared rattled. A prominent Labour backbencher, speaking anonymously, admitted: “Lenny’s words carry weight because he’s earned it. People trust him. If he’s saying the emperor has no clothes, that’s harder to ignore than some bloke on Twitter.”

The comedian himself showed no sign of backing down. In a follow-up statement posted online, he doubled down: “I love this country. I love London. But love means telling the truth, even when it hurts. We’ve lost something precious in the rush to celebrate every arrival as a net positive. It’s time we asked — better for who?”

As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Sir Lenny Henry’s raw, emotional reaction has shocked many citizens precisely because it came from him. In an era of polarised politics, his voice — forged in comedy but now sharpened by frustration — has reminded Britain that even the most cherished icons can reach breaking point.

Whether this sparks genuine policy change or simply deepens divisions remains to be seen. But for now, the nation is talking — and listening — to a man who once made us laugh, and now has us thinking very seriously indeed.