The One Show: Ricky Gervais talks about his taboo jokes
Insulting the Royal Family
Ricky Gervais once told the Royal Family they could “shove the knighthood” in a controversial Facebook post. He wrote in 2018: “Dear The Royal Family, I am the son of an immigrant labourer who didn’t have a pot to p**s in till I was 40.
“Now I’m Britain’s most successful international comedian and I p**s in anything I want. You can shove the knighthood though. How about a lordship? Love your work. Ricky.”
The post divided fans, while some pointed out that he was “joking” and “attempting to be humorous”, others did not see the funny side.
One user fumed: “Very controversial if you ask me,” and another echoed: “I used to think you were funny but you’re not. You’re a foul-mouthed prat.”
Trans row
Ricky faced backlash for jokes aimed at the transgender community in his 2022 Netflix comedy special, SuperNature.
He says: “I love the new women. They’re great, aren’t they? The new ones we’ve been seeing lately. The ones with beards and c**ks. They’re as good as gold, I love them.”
As the audience laughs, The Office creator continued: “Now the old-fashioned ones say, ‘Oh, they want to use our toilets’ ‘Why shouldn’t they use your toilets?’ ‘For ladies!’ ‘They are ladies — look at their pronouns! What about this person isn’t a lady?’ ‘Well, his penis’ ‘Her penis, you f***ing bigot!’”
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The jokes were not well received by the LGBTQ+ community and advocacy organisation GLAAD branded his remarks “dangerous, anti-trans rants masquerading as jokes”.
Ricky later defended his “taboo” jokes, saying on The One Show in May last year: “Most offence comes from when people mistake the subject of a joke with the actual target…
“It’s like a parachute jump. It’s scary, but then you land and it’s all OK. And I think that’s what comedy is for, getting us over taboo subjects. They’re not scary anymore. So I deal with everything.”
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Controversial Caitlyn Jenner joke
Ricky famously made Caitlyn Jenner the butt of his joke while hosting the 2016 Golden Globes. The Olympian had been involved in a car crash which killed a 69-year-old woman.
Gervais said in his monologue: “I’m going to be nice tonight. I’ve changed – not as much as Bruce Jenner. Obviously. Now Caitlyn Jenner, of course. What a year she’s had!
“She became a role model for trans people everywhere, showing great bravery in breaking down barriers and destroying stereotypes. She didn’t do a lot for women drivers. But you can’t have everything, can you?”
Once again, the joke drew criticism from the LGBTQ+ community with accusations that he was being transphobic.
He later defended the quip, denying that it was transphobic and insisting that he was “very careful” that it was about “her being a bad driver”.
He told The Hollywood Reporter in 2020: “The joke was about stereotypes. I started off being correctly inclusive saying she’s brave, breaking down barriers. And then I [said] she didn’t do a lot for women drivers.”
Enraging Christians
The After Life creator sparked fury from Christian fundamentalists who were offended by his comments about religion and God.
The self-proclaimed atheist particularly angered religious people when he posed on the cover of New Humanist like Jesus on the cross.
Gervais even got into a Twitter spat with @GodsWordIsLaw when the user criticised the cover. The account tweeted: “That picture of @RickyGervais on a fake cross hanging like Jesus with the words ‘Atheist’ on his body…MOST OFFENSIVE THING IVE EVER SEEN.” (sic)
To which Ricky replied: “I am not anti christian. I am anti bigot @GodsWordIsLaw I don’t believe in ANY god. I treat all religions equally. And all good people.” (sic)
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