Ricky Gervais
- 63 years old
- English
- Actor, writer, director, executive producer and stand-up comedian
Press clippings Page 14
Robin Ince: A Waste of Offence
I have known Ricky Gervais for almost 30 years. I have toured with him, written with him and been the bearer of the brunt of the practical jokes required to alleviate him of his tour boredom (hung up on coat racks, buried on beaches, covered in make up)... Anti trans punchlines seem to have become highly profitable and it ignores the dehumanising effect on a swathe of already marginalised people. I think Ricky believes it is just him being a "naughty boy". I believe it makes him a pin up and role model for the alt right (which is sadly just the mainstream right nowadays) and, whether he likes it or not, a useful ally in the culture war.
Robin Ince's Blog, 26th May 2022Comedy isn't cosy or comfortable - don't try to cancel Ricky Gervais
I watched Gervais's Netflix special. It didn't seem to me that he was mocking trans people. He was actually making a pointed and funny observation about our evolving concept of what the definition of a woman is. The joke, in other words, was on us. That's why Gervais is different from comedians from the Seventies and Eighties such as Bernard Manning and Jim Davidson, whose comedy felt laced with genuine bigotry.
Sarfraz Manzoor, Evening Standard, 26th May 2022How Ricky Gervais's pop star past explains the spiralling quality of his comedy
Controversial but boring, SuperNature plays all the old stuff.
Tom Nicholson, Esquire, 26th May 2022With Ricky Gervais's new special, Netflix yet again suffers transphobic fools
Does Netflix even care that Ricky Gervais's SuperNature is rife with transphobic TERF ideology?
Aja Romano, Vox, 26th May 2022James Acaster clip resurfaces after Ricky Gervais special
"Trans people will all be checking their privilege on the way home, thanks to you, you brave little cis boy," Acaster quipped.
Ellie Harrison, The Independent, 25th May 2022Ricky Gervais: SuperNature assessment
Mildly problematic Netflix particular pushes the correct buttons.
Sakshi Thakur, Global Circulate, 25th May 2022Gervais wants to offend people. As a Trans man, I won't take the bait
Gervais's poorly-constructed jokes aren't that important to me, and when my allies know more about Gervais than they do about any of the issues above, it's time for them to reflect on the extent of their allyship.
Beau Brink, Popsugar, 25th May 2022Ricky Gervais is no 'transphobe'
Gervais might be privileged - he joked about that as well in his set - but he uses his position to speak truth to power. Trans activist ideology has run unchecked for too long, and it is time to call it to account.
Debbie Hayton, The Spectator, 25th May 2022Ricky Gervais says new Netflix comedy SuperNature is not anti-trans
Ricky Gervais said his jokes on stage do not reflect his own personal views.
Sky News, 25th May 2022Ricky Gervais can't even handle a trans woman's joke about him
In a classic case of "can dish it out but can't take it", Gervais hastily blocks anyone who mocks him on social media. Especially trans folks who have their own share of jokes about Gervais.
Chelsea Steiner, The Mary Sue, 25th May 2022