Comedian Ricky Gervais has once again addressed the backlash surrounding his controversial jokes, particularly those aimed at transgender people, insisting he has “a right” to make such remarks.
The 64-year-old comic appeared on BBC’s This Cultural Life, where host John Wilson questioned him about the themes in his stand-up routines, including material about disabled people, fat-shaming, and trans issues.
Gervais, best known for co-creating The Office, Extras, Life’s Too Short, and After Life, has in recent years positioned himself as a critic of “woke” culture — a stance that has garnered both support and significant criticism.
During the interview, Wilson noted, “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 agreed, replying: “That’s probably true, but that’s because I think I’m right.”
Pressed to elaborate, he said: “I have a right to talk about those things. 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.’”
He continued, “As you do get more progressive, maybe, and milder and change, what usually happens is, the things you used to do look worse. 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’,” before laughing and adding, “That was a joke.”
No Regrets, Just Warnings
Gervais also said he has no interest in rewriting or reworking past material. While open to adding trigger warnings, he insisted he wouldn’t censor or change the content itself.
When asked if he felt a sense of responsibility for his jokes, especially as others may misinterpret them, Gervais said: “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.”
A Career Laced with Controversy
Gervais has long walked the line between satire and offence. His 2022 Netflix special Super Nature came under fire for a lengthy segment on transgender people and “cancel culture”. The show included jabs like:
“Old-fashioned women. They’re the ones with wombs. Those fing dinosaurs.”*
“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*.”*
While Gervais did later say: “In real life, of course, I support trans rights… Live your best life. Use your preferred pronoun,” he immediately followed it up with: “But meet me halfway, ladies. Lose the c**. That’s all I’m saying.”*
His 2024 tour Ricky Gervais: Mortality also failed to escape criticism. The Independent described it as “utterly immersed in the discourse churn of the Twittersphere,” suggesting Gervais was more focused on internet culture than on fresh material.
As debate continues about the line between free speech and harmful rhetoric in comedy, Gervais remains defiant — and unapologetic.
