Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan said he was arrested at Heathrow airport over three X posts expressing his views on trans issues.
The 57-year-old said he was detained by five armed officers after flying in from Arizona and told he was under arrest over the social media entries.
Mr Linehan said he was taken to a cell and then questioned over the X posts, published in April.
One said: “If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls.”
The writer said after questioning by police his blood pressure had reached “stroke territory” and he was taken to hospital and kept under observation, before being released on bail.
The Met Police did not identify Mr Linehan but a spokeswoman said: “On Monday, September 1st, at 1pm officers arrested a man at Heathrow airport after he arrived on an inbound American Airlines flight.
“The man in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of inciting violence. This is in relation to posts on X.
“After being taken to police custody, officers became concerned for his health and he was taken to hospital. His condition is neither life-threatening nor life-changing.
“He has now been bailed pending further investigation.”
Author and campaigner JK Rowling claimed the arrest was “totalitarianism” and “deplorable”.
Some opposition politicians in the UK have criticised the arrest. Conservative MPs described it as “ridiculous” and accused the police of “arresting people for making jokes”.
Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick described the incident as “ridiculous and a complete waste of police time”.
Fellow shadow cabinet minister Claire Coutinho said: “Britain used to be known for its sense of humour. Now the police are arresting people for making jokes.
“You live in a society? Occasionally you’re going to be offended. That’s how it works.”
Labour backbencher Jonathan Hinder said the arrest showed the need for a “serious reset to get the priorities right” in policing, while Independent MP Rupert Lowe said: “I stand with Linehan.”
Downing Street declined to comment on the arrest of Mr Linehan, but said the UK prime minister and home secretary had been “clear” about their “priorities for crime and policing”.
Asked about the arrest, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “That’s an operational matter for the police, but the prime minister and the home secretary have been clear about where their priorities for crime and policing are, and that’s tackling antisocial behaviour, shoplifting, street crime, as well as reducing serious violent crimes like knife crime and violence against women.”
Asked whether the government agreed with author Rowling’s claim that the UK was now a “totalitarian” state, the spokesman said: “No.”
Separately, Mr Linehan is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday accused of harassing transgender woman Sophia Brooks and damaging her phone, which he denies. – PA
