Ricky Gervais isn’t backing down from controversial comedy.
In a recent radio interview, the comedian doubled down on his long-standing defense of free speech, saying he has no intention of changing the subject matter to avoid offending viewers and insisting that the backlash will only lead to more jokes.
“I’m not telling people not to be offended. I’m saying I don’t care if they’re offended. If you want to be offended, be offended. It’s more interesting to me that way,” Gervais said during an appearance on BBC Radio 2.
The 65-year-old comedian, whose stand-up features have often drawn criticism for jokes about politics, gender identity, religion and celebrities, rejected the idea that he was intentionally provoking viewers.
“I can’t do anything about being upset, but…don’t expect me to care…It’s a myth that I go out to be offended. I never go out to be offended,” he said. “I know it’s probably going to happen because everyone is different.”
Gervais argued that virtually any opinion can hurt someone.
“There’s nothing you can say, especially anything that’s a little interesting or controversial or about your point of view that won’t offend someone somewhere,” he said.
Reflecting on how reactions to comedy have evolved, Gervais said today’s audiences are more easily offended than they were 20 years ago.
“And times have changed. Twenty years ago, if someone had said I was offended by that, I probably would have been like, ‘Why?'” Now I go… “I know you are.” We all are. ”
Gervais, who has frequently brought up cancel culture and free speech on recent stand-up tours, has signaled he is ready to move away from the topic.
“The truth is, I’ve dealt with it far too much. I think over the last few tours I’ve dealt with cancel culture and free speech because I felt like I had to. I don’t have to do that right now,” he said.
“I ignore it all. It shouldn’t even be brought into the room. The people there who paid hundreds of pounds, they’re not offended. I can play in front of a million people and I don’t have a single complaint.”
Gervais insisted that the anger over his comedy did not come from the crowds that filled his shows. It comes after his special reached a much larger audience online.
“As soon as it comes out on Netflix, 50 million people are going to watch it. Of course, there are going to be people who don’t like it. What do we do? It’s too late. We got paid.”
The comedian has repeatedly defended freedom of expression, argued that comedians should not shy away from controversial subject matter, and long rejected calls to tone down the material.
Earlier this year, Gervais reignited the debate by reposting one of the most memorable lines from the opening monologue of the 2020 Golden Globes, once again criticizing celebrities who use awards shows as political platforms.
“If you win an award tonight, please don’t use it as a platform for political speech,” Gervais told the star-studded crowd.
“You are in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world. Most of you have spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg.”
Gervais reposted the quote on X and added his own jab: “They haven’t heard it yet.”
