Ricky Gervais doubles down on controversial comedy and free speech
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Ricky Gervais isn’t backing away from controversial comedy.
The comedian emphasized his long-standing defense of freedom of expression in a recent radio interview, saying he had no intention of changing his material to avoid offending viewers, and suggested the backlash only escalated the joke.
“I’m not telling people not to be offended; I’m telling them I don’t care if they’re offended. Take it if you want, it’s funnier to me,” Gervais said. BBC Radio 2.
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Ricky Gervais speaks onstage at the Season 3 Premiere of Netflix’s “After Life” at the BFI Southbank in London. (David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images, File)
The 65-year-old comedian, who has frequently drawn criticism for jokes about politics, gender identity, religion and celebrities in his stand-up routines, rejected the idea that he was deliberately trying to provoke viewers.
“You can’t help what you’re offended by, but… don’t expect me to care… It’s a myth that I go out to offend. I never go out to offend,” he said. “I just know it will happen because everyone is different.”
Gervais argued that almost any idea could offend someone.
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Ricky Gervais at the 2012 Golden Globe Awards. (Paul Drinkwater/NBC via Getty Images, File)
“There’s nothing you can say, especially nothing that’s even remotely interesting or controversial or that someone somewhere, depending on your point of view, wouldn’t find offensive,” he said.
Touching on how reactions to comedy have evolved, Gervais said that today’s audiences are more easily offended than they were twenty years ago.
“And times have changed. If someone twenty years ago had said I was bothered by this, I’d probably have said, ‘Why?’ I would say. Now I’m going… ‘I know it is. Everyone is.”
Ricky Gervais tells the Los Angeles Times how he survived his offensive comedy. (Getty Images, File)
While Gervais has frequently touched on cancel culture and freedom of expression in his recent stand-up tours, he has suggested he is ready to change the subject.
“I actually dealt with it a lot. I think the last few tours I struggled with canceling culture and free speech because I felt like I had to do that. There’s no need for that anymore,” he said.
“I ignore everything, I shouldn’t even bring this into the room. People there paying hundreds of pounds are not offended. I can play to a million people, not a single complaint.”
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Ricky Gervais at the 2020 Golden Globes in Los Angeles. (Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal via Getty Images, File)
Gervais insisted that the outrage over his comedy did not come from the crowds that packed his shows, but came after his specials reached a much larger audience online.
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“50 million people as soon as it aired on Netflix. Of course there will be people who don’t like it. What will I do? It’s too late now. I’ve been paid.”
The comic has long rejected calls to tone down his material, repeatedly defending free speech and arguing that comedians should not shy away from controversial topics.
Earlier this year, Gervais reignited the debate by reposting one of the most memorable lines from his 2020 Golden Globes opening monologue, once again attacking celebrities who use awards shows as political platforms.
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“If you win an award tonight, don’t use it as a platform to make political speeches,” Gervais told the star-studded crowd. “You are in no position to lecture the public on anything. You know nothing about the real world. Most of you have spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg.”
Gervais, who republished the quote on X, added his own sarcasm: “They still don’t listen.”
