Decoding the Turbulent Journey of Ricky Gervais: Unveiling the Controversies
Unveiling the controversies surrounding Ricky Gervais, as his Netflix stand-up special Armageddon premieres Discover his responses to joke backlash, LGBTQ+ criticism for SuperNature, and the heat he faced for Caitlyn Jenner jokes in Humanity
Today, the new Netflix stand-up special Ricky Gervais: Armageddon has been released. Here's a look at the controversies surrounding the comedian’s sets. Ricky Gervais is a unique comedian who gained fame in 2001 with the original UK sitcom The Office. Since then, he has created, produced, and starred in several successful series, and has also appeared in Hollywood films. He continues to sell out stand-up tours as well.
Gervais is known for his clever humor, fearless approach to controversial topics, and his memorable stint as the host of the Golden Globe Awards. Instead of playing nice with the A-listers in attendance, he fearlessly poked fun at the rich and powerful, leaving no topic off-limits.
His Netflix stand-up specials are breaking records and stirring up controversy, with Gervais addressing each issue head-on.
Ricky Gervais controversies explained
Ricky Gervais: Armageddon is his third Netflix stand-up special, coming after 2018’s Humanity and 2022’s SuperNature.
Below, you will find an explanation of the backlash to each one, as well as his responses.
Ricky Gervais responds to Armageddon joke backlash
In a humorous moment from Armageddon, Gervais jokes about the Make A Wish Foundation, quipping: “I’ve been sending a lot of video messages to terminally ill children lately. Only if they ask for it, obviously. I don’t just barge into hospitals and say, ‘Wake up, baldy.’”
Referring to the foundation as “amazing,” he continues: “They grant these children their one wish, and if they choose me, I always say yes. And I always begin the video the same way. I say, ‘Why didn’t you wish to get better?’ What, are you stupid as well?”
Many people and organizations, such as disability charity Scope, condemned the joke. Scope stated, “We wish we were surprised by reports that @RickyGervais has used ableist slurs in his new @Netflix special. It’s frustrating that we are once again having to call out a public figure for using this kind of harmful language. But we need to be absolutely clear that this kind of language isn’t acceptable."
The language used has serious repercussions. People with disabilities already encounter negative attitudes, and the media has a significant responsibility in promoting better understanding. Making 'jokes' using this language minimizes its impact and can normalize the mistreatment that many disabled individuals endure daily.
A petition has been initiated urging Netflix to remove the controversial joke, expressing disbelief at the decision to approve such offensive content. The creator emphasized the need for the skit to be taken down.
Gervais addressed the criticism during an interview with Nihal Arthanayake on BBC Radio 5 Live, explaining that the joke explicitly states that he does not engage in that behavior. He added that people's reaction to the joke is based on emotion rather than analysis, and that the concept of being "offended" lacks substantial meaning.
On this show, I discuss sensitive topics such as sex, death, paedophilia, race, religion, disability, free speech, global warming, the holocaust, and Elton John. If you are uncomfortable with humor about any of these subjects, I suggest not watching as it may cause distress. pic.twitter.com/kYXBlZRggW
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) December 19, 2023
He continued by stating that "99% of the offense is not genuine," and added: "They are not truly offended. They just want to voice their opinions. I'll clarify, 'No, you have misunderstood the focus of the joke with the actual target.'"
Later, he took to X to caution: "In this show, I discuss sex, death, pedophilia, race, religion, disability, freedom of speech, global warming, the Holocaust, and Elton John. If you disapprove of jokes about any of these topics, then please refrain from watching. You will not find it enjoyable and it will only upset you."
Ricky Gervais criticized by LGBTQ+ groups for SuperNature joke
In Gervais' 2022 Netflix comedy special SuperNature, he made a humorous remark about "traditional women. They're the ones with wombs. Those old-fashioned creatures. I prefer the modern women. They're fantastic, right? The recent ones we've been encountering. The ones with an unconventional twist."
He later states, "I support trans rights and all human rights. However, I urge women to meet me halfway and not perpetuate male genitalia. That's all I'm saying." The Netflix special received backlash from LGBTQ+ rights organization GLAAD, condemning it for containing "graphic, dangerous, anti-trans rants disguised as jokes" and spreading misinformation about HIV.
The group emphasized that the LGBTQ community and their supporters are determined to hold accountable comedians who express hate instead of humor, as well as the media companies that provide them with a platform.
Gervais had preemptively responded to the criticism, stating in SuperNature: "I joke about AIDS, famine, cancer, the Holocaust, rape, pedophilia... The one thing you should never joke about is the trans issue. They just want to be treated equally. I agree; that's why I include them. But they know I'm joking about all the other stuff, but they go, 'No, he must mean that.'"
Ricky Gervais faces heat for Caitlyn Jenner jokes in Humanity
Following the response, he stated to The Spectator: "I wasn't targeting trans individuals, but rather the ideology of trans activists. I have always challenged dogma that oppresses people and restricts freedom of expression. It has arguably been the most current and controversial subject of the past few years. I address controversial topics and must confront the issue that everyone is avoiding."
Ricky Gervais faces heat for Caitlyn Jenner jokes in Humanity
In his 2018 Netflix special Humanity, Gervais references a controversial joke he made about Caitlyn Jenner at the Golden Globes. He reflects on the backlash to the joke, highlighting that some people took issue with him using her old name and acknowledging her previous identity as a man, despite the fact that she was a well-known figure in the public eye prior to her transition.
Gervais made a joke about identifying as a chimp, saying, "If I say I'm a chimp, I am a chimp. And don't ever dead-name me, from now on you call me Bobo. I'm going to have species realignment." Once again, Gervais faced accusations of being transphobic. IndieWire wrote in its review of Humanity: "Ricky Gervais' new Netflix special opens with smugly transphobic Caitlyn Jenner jokes." Meanwhile, Vox questioned, "Does Netflix even care that Ricky Gervais's SuperNature is rife with transphobic TERF ideology?"
Gervais was quick to address the potential backlash, emphasizing that the joke targeted a celebrity killing someone in their car. He defended his comedy style as accurate and fair. In a subsequent conversation with The Daily Beast, Gervais questioned why some have deemed the subject off-limits for jokes, arguing that it depends on the context of the joke and calling the notion absurd.
"I have noticed this with many different issues. People will say, 'We want to be treated equally, but not when it comes to making jokes.' And my response is, 'That is asking for special treatment, not equality.' If you joke about one thing, you joke about everything. Dogma used to be limited to religion and other groups, but now it has infiltrated identity politics. They want to silence any opposing views."
Ricky Gervais: Armageddon is now streaming on Netflix, and you can find more Netflix content below.
Firefly Lane Season 3, Beef Season 2, Monster Season 2, Ginny and Georgia Season 3, Stranger Things Season 5, Florida Man Season 2, Obsession Season 2, The Sandman Season 2, The Lincoln Lawyer Season 3, Heartstopper Season 3, Virgin River Season 6, and Lift.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I find Ricky Gervais's comedy to be both entertaining and thought-provoking. His willingness to tackle controversial topics and push the boundaries of humor is refreshing in a world where it seems like everyone is afraid to say anything that might offend someone. I appreciate his ability to make me laugh while also making me think about important issues.
However, I do think that some of his jokes can be insensitive and hurtful. His comments about the Make A Wish Foundation, for example, were in poor taste and showed a lack of empathy for children with disabilities. I understand that Gervais is trying to be provocative, but there is a line that should not be crossed. I hope that in the future, he will be more mindful of the impact his words can have on others.
