Ricky Gervais pushes back on anti-trans joke criticism

Ricky Gervais responds to anti-trans joke criticisms. (Karwai Tang/Getty)

Comedian Ricky Gervais has responded to criticism about his anti-trans jokes, stating he has “a right” to make such comments.

The 64-year-old comic appeared on BBC This Cultural Life and was interviewed by host John Wilson. In the wide-ranging conversation, Wilson specifically asked Gervais about his stand-up targeting disabled people, trans people and fat-shaming. 

Gervais rose to fame for his writing and performances in The Office, Extras, Life’s Too Short, and After Life. However, in recent years, he has seemingly embarked on an “anti-woke” crusade, for which he has been heavily criticised. 

In the new interview, Wilson observes to Gervais: “It’s almost like you haven’t changed in parallel with the times. You’ve kind of doubled down on those issues. It’s become more important to you.”

Gervais responded: “That’s probably true, but that’s because I think I’m right.”

Wilson pushed him on the point. “You’re right in what way?”

“I have a right to talk about those things,” he said. “And there are jokes I certainly stand by. I can’t look back and say, ‘Oh, sorry about that, I said that when I was only 50.’”

“As you do get more progressive, maybe, and milder and change, what usually happens is, the things you used to do look worse,” he continued.

“What I do is I try and get more offensive, so when I look back, I go ‘aw wasn’t I kind when I was 45’.” Gervais then breaks into laughter, clarifying: “That was a joke.”

‘I have a right to talk about those things.’

In the conversation, Gervais explained that he would not want to rework or rewrite his past material. He clarified he’d want to put trigger warnings on things, but wouldn’t want to change his material.

Later in the episode, he was questioned about whether he sees himself as having a responsibility for his on-stage comments. Gervais argued against the proliferation of what he voices on stage: “I have seen people try and do what I do and get it wrong. I don’t think that’s my fault… I don’t think it’s my problem because all art can be misunderstood once it’s out there.”

Gervais’ 2024 tour, Ricky Gervais: Mortality, was poorly reviewed with The Independent accusing him of being “utterly immersed in the discourse churn of the Twittersphere”.

Furthermore, his 2022 Netflix special Super Nature featured a 15-minute-long segment about trans people and “cancel culture”. 

Within the act, he tried to joke about “old-fashioned women. They’re the ones with wombs.”

“Those f****** dinosaurs,” he continued. Mocking trans women, the comedian added: “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****.”

In the same show, he declared: “OK, full disclosure, in real life, of course, I support trans rights.

“I support all human rights and trans rights are human rights. Live your best life. Use your preferred pronoun.”

However, he followed that statement up with: “But meet me halfway, ladies. Lose the c***. That’s all I’m saying.”