Comedian Ricky Gervais slammed celebrities who constantly misuse their influence, asserting that people are getting sick of it. Was he right? You decide.
Ricky Gervais, the renowned British comedian, has quite the reputation for being brutally honest about celebrities. His unfiltered takes on Hollywood’s elite have ruffled many feathers, especially during awards ceremonies. However, it was at the 2020 Golden Globes where Gervais’s comments hit a nerve, as he openly criticized celebrities and tech companies for turning the event into a platform for political statements.
In an interview with The Sun, Gervais explained his disdain for celebrity award shows, sharing past experiences. “The first time I did it, ten years ago, everyone was like, ‘Ah, how can you talk to these wonderful multi-millionaires, how can you talk to these beautiful people, like that? We love celebrities,’” he recalled. “By the last one it was like, ‘God, give it to them, we hate celebrities!’”
Gervais believes that the shift in public sentiment towards celebrities stems from their hypocritical virtue signaling. “With all the austerity and people struggling, they think, ‘Why are these people lecturing me? They’re going to an awards ceremony in a limo and telling me to recycle?’” he commented.
Continuing his thoughts, Gervais added, “People just got sick of it, just got sick of virtue signaling. The people with nothing became tired of being lectured by people who had everything. You have to make a decision as a comedian. Do you pander to the 200 most privileged people in the world in the room or the 200 million watching at home?”
“In comedy, traditionally, we are jesters. We have low status. So I’m down in the mud with the other peasants, having a go. I’ve got to be on their side,” Gervais elaborated. “That’s why I go out there with a beer and look like a slob because I’ve got to show people that I’m on their side.”
Gervais also noted the challenge of maintaining relatability as a stand-up comedian, given public awareness of his success. “So I do it in two ways. I act like a slob. I go out in bad jeans and a bad T-shirt and drink beer out of a can. I remind them I’m one of them, I shouldn’t be here, I’m lucky.”
Further discussing his stance on offense, Gervais shared, “I always say, ‘Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right.’ Some people are offended by a quality. So I’m never trying to offend, but in this new tour, it is about freedom of speech and offense culture.”
Gervais also reflected on how his career was impacted by his appearance at the 2020 Golden Globes. “I got that reputation from the Golden Globes, where I gently ripped some of the richest, most privileged, beautiful people in the world,” he explained. “I can justify every joke. And I think some people get offended when they mistake the subject of the joke with the actual target, particularly when dealing with taboo subjects.”
Responding to criticism from GLAAD, which accused him of anti-trans sentiments in his Netflix special, Gervais clarified his target. “My target wasn’t trans folk, but trans activist ideology,” he told The Spectator. “I’ve always confronted dogma that oppresses people and limits freedom of expression. It was probably the most current, most talked about, taboo subject of the last couple of years. I deal in taboo subjects and have to confront the elephant in the room.”
