Ricky Gervais says he doesn’t worry about getting cancelled because he can ‘justify everything’ he jokes about

Ricky Gervais says he doesn't worry about getting cancelled because he can 'justify everything' he jokes about

As a long-time admirer of Ricky Gervais and his unique brand of humor, I find myself often in awe of his ability to push boundaries and challenge societal norms through comedy. His work, while controversial at times, has always been rooted in thoughtful commentary on contemporary issues, making him a trailblazer in the world of stand-up comedy.


Ricky Gervais explained that he isn’t concerned with being removed from public life due to his humor, as he feels confident in the ability to back up every humorous remark he makes.

The 63-year-old humorist shared that he appreciates tackling sensitive topics during his comedy routines, yet he’s never concerned about losing audience approval due to overstepping boundaries.

On the Stick To Football podcast, presented by Sky Bet, he stated: ‘I’m mindful of it and I can defend all my actions.’

Instead of speaking impulsively without considering the potential outcomes, I strive to back up everything I say with a valid reason. In other words, I aim to ensure that my actions are always defensible and reasonable.

Much of what I present often appears more severe due to the sensitive nature of the topics involved. Upon closer examination, however, it’s generally not as detrimental as it initially appears.

The reason is that the topics you’re addressing are controversial and loaded with trendy phrases, causing reactions like surprise or shock from some. However, upon examining the humor, everything appears to be in order.

Ricky Gervais says he doesn't worry about getting cancelled because he can 'justify everything' he jokes about
Ricky Gervais says he doesn't worry about getting cancelled because he can 'justify everything' he jokes about

I enjoy tackling sensitive topics, as it allows me to guide my audience into unfamiliar territories.

It’s similar to guiding someone cautiously through a spooky woodland, but in the end, everything turns out fine and we can share a good laugh. Laughter is the way comedy helps us navigate through difficult or frightening situations.

As a die-hard admirer, I’d like to echo Ricky’s thoughts: I firmly believe that one cannot genuinely face the so-called ‘cancellation’ unless they engage in some form of unlawful activity.

He stated: ‘Additionally, what does ‘canceling’ mean? If some individuals disliked it, that’s acceptable. However, for a genuine cancellation to occur, one must indeed break the law; otherwise, if someone doesn’t like it, that’s okay, it’s just how things work in the world.’

In a recent interview, the actor from The Office mentioned that he remains unfazed when audiences don’t find his humor amusing because for him, stand-up comedy is an ongoing journey of fine-tuning and improvement.

He mentioned: “It’s amusing because when you produce a TV show or film, you get the finest guests, write the script, record it, edit it, and believe that’s all there is to it, as you can’t make any changes. However, in standup comedy, you have the chance to alter it every night, as the audience informs you what’s humorous.

The process is similar to natural selection through evolution. If your action doesn’t elicit laughter, you either stop doing it or refine it, but if it does bring about laughter, then you continue with it.

‘Eventually, you’ve got an hour where everyone laughs at everything.’ 

Ricky Gervais says he doesn't worry about getting cancelled because he can 'justify everything' he jokes about

Ricky pointed out: “You may write numerous things, but you won’t truly know if they’re any good until you put them to the test. If you were to create a stage show today and perform it, it might only receive a 20% success rate.

Instead of staying in a studio or rehearsal space, the magic truly unfolds when performing live on stage each evening. The outcome can be successful or not, and it’s essentially that straightforward.

Humor is a matter of personal taste; to one person, you might seem hilarious, while to another, you may not be funny at all, as humor can vary greatly among individuals.

‘You do it for you and like-minded people. You do your thing, and you find your audience.’

Ricky commenced his newest series of performances in October, acknowledging then that perhaps he overstepped boundaries with a humorous remark concerning Jimmy Savile.

As an ardent admirer, I couldn’t help but be left in fits of laughter earlier this week as the free-speech comedian commenced his Mortality tour. He tackled subjects that were not only daring but pushed boundaries even for my most battle-hardened fan self.

Ricky’s performance drew a variety of opinions from critics, some labeling him as a “boring barroom regular” due to his excessive internet usage and others finding him insufficiently enthusiastic.

However, his fans showered him with accolades following his successful comeback at the York Barbican on Tuesday. They dubbed his performance as “excellent” and “impressive,” with one enthusiastically stating that they had seldom laughed so heartily.

The hour-long show includes some controversial gags, which is unsurprising given Gervais’ unapologetic attitude, with jokes about disabled children, Gandhi and another about Pakistan’s sharia laws. 

However, it was the comedian’s unflattering comparison of himself to Jimmy Savile, stating he was even more reprehensible than the notorious figure who preyed upon and harmed disabled children, that sparked outrage among the crowd.

Gervais asserted that the joke was “the worst thing” he’s ever made, starting with a statement about public sentiment towards Jimmy Savile, who was widely despised for committing crimes such as raping children with disabilities.

He then suggests this is something he would never do, before adding: ‘Which in a way makes me worse than him. At least he gave them a chance.’

After this, there was another joke involving fellow British comedian Rosie Jones, who has cerebral palsy. Gervais mentioned that Jones faced criticism from disability advocates regarding the title of her documentary titled “Am I a Retard?”.

He explained that she was told the word was not hers to use as a physically disabled person. Gervais then quips: ‘They said you’re not a r****d, you’re a s*****c.’

In a somewhat contentious statement, Gervais pointed out the apparent inconsistency among Western liberals who seem unwilling to criticize Pakistan’s policies regarding sexual freedoms.

He asserts that Pakistani law allows for a man to engage in sexual activity with a woman once she has reached puberty, signified by her first menstruation.

The comic pokes fun at this with a skit about a mother telling her neighbour, who is frustratedly waiting for her daughter to mature, to pass the time by throwing homosexuals off a roof.

He ends with the punchline: ‘Liberals hate religious fascism and abuse of girls except when it’s in Pakistan.’

It is not the first time Gervais has raised eyebrows over his material. 

Previously, he encountered criticism due to offensive humor regarding asylum seekers and terminally ill children in his 2023 show that aired on the streaming platform Armageddon.

After a video of him went viral on social media, he faced criticism for his comments. In the video, he was seen referring to sick children as “baldies” and questioning those who sought a meeting with him through the Make-A-Wish Foundation about why they didn’t wish to get better instead.

In spite of the commotion, the special managed to win a Golden Globe and eventually set a record as the highest-grossing comedy show ever, earning an impressive £1.41 million during a single performance at the Box Office.

Additionally, Gervais faced criticism for what some perceived as transphobic jokes in his 2022 Netflix stand-up comedy special titled SuperNature.

His habits often involved stating: ‘It’s hard to foresee what might be considered offensive later on. You never truly know who will hold the majority power.’

‘Like, the worst thing you can say today, get you cancelled on Twitter, death threats, the worst thing you can say today is, ‘Women don’t have penises’, right?

“That surprise was completely unexpected. You wouldn’t find a decade-old tweet stating that women lack penises because it was assumed it wasn’t necessary to mention such obvious biological facts.

As a firm advocate for human rights, let me openly declare my strong support for trans rights. I firmly believe that trans rights are an integral part of our universal human rights.

Ricky Gervais says he doesn't worry about getting cancelled because he can 'justify everything' he jokes about

Here’s a more respectful and inclusive way of expressing the original statement:

At the 2016 Golden Globe Awards, Ricky sparked debate when some viewers claimed that his remarks about Caitlyn during his opening address were perceived as disrespectful towards transgender individuals, leading to allegations of transphobia.

He said: ‘What a year she’s had. She’s become a role model for trans people everywhere, showing great bravery and destroying stereotypes.

‘She didn’t do a lot for women drivers. You can’t have everything, can you, not at the same time.’

Back in February 2015, Jenner was unfortunately part of a severe road accident involving multiple vehicles. Sadly, a woman named Kim Howe lost her life in this incident. However, the authorities chose not to press any criminal charges regarding this unfortunate event.

In response to accusations of transphobia, Ricky argued on Twitter that making a jest about Caitlyn Jenner is the equivalent of making a racially insensitive joke about Bill Cosby.

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2024-11-28 11:23

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