Ricky Gervais hits back at critics of his new Netflix special

Ricky Gervais hits back at critics over ‘transphobic’ Netflix routine – insisting most people only get offended when they ‘mistake the subject’ of his gags

• Ricky Gervais has addressed trans rights, identity politics and cancel culture during new Netflix comedy show
• During an opening monologue he describes the ‘new women we’ve been seeing lately with beards and c***s’
• Gervais also speaks of support for trans rights during the show, but adds: ‘Lose the c**ks. that’s all I’m saying’
• Comedian, 60, has been praised after telling audience: ‘You can’t predict what will be offensive in the future’
• But some viewers have taken to social media to blast the comedian and Netflix over the ‘bigoted hatred’

Comedian Ricky Gervais has hit back at critics after Twitter’s ‘woke brigade’ turned on the comic for mocking cancel culture with jokes about transgender people, Adolf Hitler and AIDS in his new ‘SuperNature’ Netflix special. 

The comic, 60, who has been embroiled in controversy throughout his career, kicks off the show with a warning about irony as he describes the concept of comedy to the audience as ‘basically a bloke talking’, before purposely failing to recall any ‘funny female comedians’.

In ‘SuperNature’, Gervais wastes no time singling out the ‘virtue-signalling’ and ‘dominant mobs’ who are quick to criticise just to ‘bring people down to raise their own status’.

But his jokes were later described as ‘dangerous’ material by an American LGBT rights group, while Stonewall accused him of ‘making fun of trans people’. 

In response, Gervais told The Spectator: ‘My target wasn’t trans folk, but trans activist ideology. I’ve always confronted dogma that oppresses people and limits freedom of expression.’ 

He again retorted against woke critics last night as he told The One Show that comedy should be used as a tool for ‘getting us over taboo subjects so they’re not scary any more’.

He said: ‘I think that’s what comedy is for, really – to get us through stuff, and I deal in taboo subjects because I want to take the audience to a place it hasn’t been before, even for a split second.

‘Most offence comes from when people mistake the subject of a joke with the actual target.’

He added: ‘I think that’s what comedy is for – getting us over taboo subjects so they’re not scary anymore. So, I deal with everything. And I think we second guess the audience too much.’

Gervais’ new special has received the backing of viewers for broaching controversial topics including the trans debate, racism, identity politics and Hitler – weeks after Netflix was accused of ‘being infected by the woke mind virus’ by Elon Musk. 

Just minutes into his opening monologue, Gervais yawns to the crowd as he talks about ‘those old-fashioned women, you know, with wombs’. 

He later moves onto quips after transgender women and pronouns, drawing huge laughs from the crowd when he mocks up a debate over gendered toilets. He at one point references his transition to becoming ‘Vicky Gervais’.

Gervais later offers a strong rebuttal to cancel culture, reminding audiences that their opinion on a comedian’s work isn’t necessarily the prevailing thought of everyone.

‘When someone says to me: ‘Oh they’re not funny’, even if I agree with them I say ‘well you can’t say that, you don’t find them funny’.

‘I hate when people say: ‘That joke was offensive’. No, you’ve got to say you found it offensive. It’s all about feelings, and feelings are personal.’ 

Turning his attention to a new brand of ‘woke comedy’, in which he says comics are required to sign a waiver before their sets promising not to say anything contentious, he told the audience he would rather watch American stand-up comedian Louis CK masturbate.

‘Can’t mention him anymore, he’s cancelled. Not enough to apologise and move on’, he jokes. 

Comedian Ricky Gervais has hit back at critics after Twitter’s ‘woke brigade’ turned on the comic for mocking cancel culture with jokes about transgender people, Adolf Hitler and AIDS in his new ‘SuperNature’ Netflix special

His jokes in ‘SuperNature’ were described as ‘dangerous’ material by an American LGBT rights group, while Stonewall accused him of ‘making fun of trans people’

The comic, 60, starts the show by describing comedy to the audience as ‘basically a bloke talking’, before purposely failing to recall any ‘funny female comedians’

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, a campaign group based in the US, slammed Mr Gervais for his takes on transgender issues and homosexuality in his Netflix special

Ricky Gervais’ gags which kickstarted a Twitter row 

Mocking up a debate over gendered toilets, Gervais starts the joke: ‘They are ladies, look at their pronouns. What about this person isn’t a lady? 

‘Well, his penis.’

‘Her penis you f****** bigot’.

‘What is he rapes me?’

‘What if SHE rapes you?’ 

Turning his sights onto a new branch of ‘woke comedy’, in which he says comics are required to sign a waiver before their sets promising not to say anything contentious, he jokes he would rather watch American stand-up comedian Louis CK masturbate.

‘Can’t mention him anymore. He’s cancelled’, he adds. 

Gervais later tells his audience: ‘You can’t predict what will be offensive in the future. You don’t know who the dominant mob will be. 

‘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?

‘Now, no one saw that coming. You won’t find a ten-year-old tweet saying ‘Women don’t have penises.’ You know why? We didn’t think we f***ing had to!’

Discussing the minorities and the demographics of Britain, Gervais points out: ‘We’re 5 per cent black, 5 per cent Asian. 5 per cent LGBQT.

‘I’m a white, heterosexual multi-millionaire. There’s less than one percent of us.

‘Do I whine? No. I don’t mind’. 

In another joke towards the end of the show in which he addresses self identity, Gervais says he supports trans rights – a remark met by cheers by a few members of the audience.

He adds: ‘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 pronouns, be the gender that you feel that you are. But meet me halfway ladies, lose the c**k, that’s all I’m saying.’  

Discussing Kevin Hart’s decision to remove himself from hosting the Oscars in 2018 after historical homophobic tweets emerged, Gervais tells his audience: ‘You can’t predict what will be offensive in the future. You don’t know who the dominant mob will be. 

‘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?

‘Now, no one saw that coming. You won’t find a ten-year-old tweet saying ‘Women don’t have penises.’ You know why? We didn’t think we f***ing had to!’

And in another joke towards the end of the show in which he addresses self identity, Gervais says he supports trans rights – a remark met by cheers by a few members of the audience.

He adds: ‘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 pronouns, be the gender that you feel that you are. But meet me halfway ladies, lose the c**k, that’s all I’m saying.’  

Talking to the audience about cancel culture and the transgender issues during an opening monologue, Gervais tells the audience: ‘Ah women. Not all women, I mean the old-fashioned women, you know the ones with wombs? Those f***ing 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***s. They’re as good as gold, I love them. 

‘And now the old-fashioned ones say ‘oh, they want to use our toilets’. Why shouldn’t they use your toilets? For ladies! They are ladies — look at their pronouns!’

Acting out a discussion, he adds: ‘What about this person isn’t a lady? ‘Well, his penis.’ Her penis, you f***ing bigot! ‘What if he rapes me?’ What if she rapes you, you f***ing TERF w***e?’

The British comedian didn’t hold back in the programme and also joked about ‘taboo’ subjects including Hitler, famine and AIDS.

And he has been praised for the ‘zero f***s given’ approach to the Netflix special.

One viewer said: ‘How dare comic/actor Ricky Gervais have funny and accurate jokes about people with zero self awareness!’

Another said: ‘Well, the far left mob is at it again, trying to cancel comedian Ricky Gervais for making jokes about trans people. 

‘I saw the bit and though the jokes were fine. Light-hearted, no hate. I’ll have to hurry and watch the whole show now in case it gets removed.’

A third added: ‘I’m watching #SuperNature in part because everyone is already offended. 

‘Being offensive is comedic currency, and the world has all but lost that perspective. Thankful Ricky Gervais doesn’t give a s**t because I’m only five minutes in and I’m crying.’

Others took to Twitter to share their enjoyment of the special, which was filmed on his most recent tour, many fans rushed to Twitter to praise the comic.

One wrote: ‘I’m not even 10 minutes into #SuperNature and this is hands down the funniest comedy special I’ve ever seen.

Another said on Twitter: ‘I can’t remember the last time I laughed out loud as much at a stand up show as I am currently at SuperNature. Ricky Gervais, absolutely brilliant.’

American LGBQT rights group describes transgender jokes in Ricky Gervais’ ‘SuperNature’ Netflix special as ‘dangerous’ 

In ‘SuperNature’, Ricky Gervais  wastes no time singling out the ‘virtue-signalling’ and ‘dominant mobs’ who are quick to criticise just to ‘bring people down to raise their own status’. 

But the comic, 60, who has been embroiled in controversy throughout his career, faced a backlash for quips over transgender debates and single-sex toilets. 

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, a campaign group based in the US, slammed Mr Gervais for his takes on transgender issues and homosexuality in his Netflix special.

The group tweeted: ‘It’s full of graphic, dangerous, anti-trans rants masquerading as jokes. He also spouts anti-gay rhetoric and spreads inaccurate information about HIV.’ 

Stonewall later accused Gervais of ‘making fun of trans people’ and said ‘punching down is never funny’.

Their comments come despite the comic saying he was an ally of the transgender community during his one-hour Netflix special.

Gervais hit back at critics while speaking on the BBC’s One Show last night as he said comedy is for ‘getting us over taboo subjects’.

‘I think that’s what comedy is for, really – to get us through stuff, and I deal in taboo subjects because I want to take the audience to a place it hasn’t been before, even for a split second,’ he told hosts.

‘Most offence comes from when people mistake the subject of a joke with the actual target.’

A second wrote: The bloke never fails! Another masterpiece from Ricky Gervais with #SuperNature. Absolute National Treasure.’

A third added: ‘SuperNature was brilliant. Your comedic perspective is the perfect antidote to taking this crazy world too seriously.’

A fourth wrote: ‘Howled for the last 64 minutes. Tears rolling down my cheeks. It’s been worth waiting for! Just brilliant!’

Gervais’ new show comes days after Netflix’s recently axed of 290 staff – targeting many of the firm’s wokest workers who are prolific social justice warriors on social media, it has been claimed. 

The struggling streaming service has pulled the plug on several projects that were aimed at discussing race and LGBTQ issues, Variety reported, and axed the diverse employees working on and promoting them.

A total of 150 recruitment workers were fired, as well as another 70 animators, and 70 contractors working on promotional materials for the firm including social media and publishing.

Netflix claimed its latest layoffs were due to ‘a slow down in revenue and decline in subscribers.’ But critics online speculated that the firings were part of a wider ‘woke’ clear-out.

SuperNature has, though, received criticism online over the controversial topics it broaches.

One viewer said on Twitter: ‘Netflix, care to comment on the bigoted hatred? Platforming hate, be it racism, homophobia, sexism OR transphobia is wrong! 

‘So why air Ricky Gervais’ bigotry? Why encourage others to target trans people with these ‘jokes’. It’s NOT edgy, its NOT controversial, IT’S HATE. STOP!’

Another said: ‘Ricky Gervais has a new stand up show out on Netflix today. 5 minutes in and he’s making jokes about trans women attacking & raping people in public bathrooms. 

‘To him we exist only as a punchline, a threat, something less than human.’

A third added: ‘Ricky Gervais is a disgrace, he is going to cause hate crime and ultimately the death of Trans folk. Anyone who needs to vilify minorities to get a laugh is the most evil hateful soul and seriously needs mental help.’ 

It comes after Jimmy Carr faced criticism in February earlier this year after it emerged that he joked about the deaths of six millions Jews in the Holocaust.

Gervais’ new Netflix special SuperNature has, though, received criticism online over its controversial topics

Jimmy Carr slammed over his Holocaust joke in Netflix comedy special His Dark Material 

Jimmy, 49, sparked criticism in February over a clip from his Netflix special His Dark Material, which saw him joke that the ‘thousands of gypsies killed by the Nazis’ was a ‘positive’ effect of the Holocaust.

In a widely shared clip from his Netflix show, Jimmy joked about the horror of the Holocaust and ‘six million Jewish lives being lost’.

As a punchline, he then made a disparaging remark about the deaths of thousands of gypsies at the hands of the Nazis.

‘But they never mention the thousands of gypsies that were killed by the Nazis. No one ever wants to talk about that, because no one ever wants to talk about the positives,’ Carr quipped to a laughing audience.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman branded the joke ‘unacceptable’, while Health Secretary Sajid Javid urged people to boycott the one-hour special.

Jewish comedian David Baddiel, 57, was also among swathes of other people to slam Jimmy over the gag.

David said: ‘You can obviously tell a Holocaust joke that is cruel and inhumane and mean spirited and racist.

‘Or you can tell one that targets the oppressors, or draws attention to the fundamental evil of it, or shines and light on the humanity of the victims.

‘It’s not the subject matter of the joke that counts, it’s the specifics of the individual joke. Clearly, Jimmy Carr’s was the former.’

Meanwhile, Conservative MP and Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries told BBC News that the gag was ‘abhorrent’.  

The comedian received a barrage of uproar in over a clip from his Netflix special which saw him joke that the ‘thousands of gypsies killed by the Nazis’ was a ‘positive’ consequence of the Holocaust.

In the Netflix footage, the 8 Out of 10 Cats presenter said: ‘When people talk about the Holocaust, they talk about the tragedy and horror of six million Jewish lives being lost to the Nazi war machine. 

‘But they never mention the thousands of gypsies that were killed by the Nazis. No one ever talks about that because no one wants to talk about the positives.’

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman branded the joke ‘unacceptable’, while Health Secretary Sajid Javid urged people to boycott the one-hour special. 

‘Obviously, those comments are deeply disturbing and it is unacceptable to make light of genocide,’ Mr Johnson’s spokesman said. 

They said ‘mocking the atrocities of the Holocaust is unacceptable’ but that it is a matter for Netflix when it comes to whether or not the special should be removed. 

The spokesman added: ‘We are looking at toughening measures for social media and streaming platforms which don’t tackle harmful content on their platforms.

‘We are looking at regulatory changes for streaming companies. We are clear that any change in legislation needs to be proportionate, to ensure freedom of speech within the law is not stifled.’ 

Jewish comedian David Baddiel, 57, was also among swathes of other people to slam Jimmy over the gag.

David said: ‘You can obviously tell a Holocaust joke that is cruel and inhumane and mean-spirited and racist.

‘Or you can tell one that targets the oppressors, or draws attention to the fundamental evil of it, or shines and light on the humanity of the victims.

‘It’s not the subject matter of the joke that counts, it’s the specifics of the individual joke. Clearly, Jimmy Carr’s was the former.’

Meanwhile, Conservative MP and Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries told BBC News that the gag was ‘abhorrent’. 

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