Ricky Gervais receives new criticism from viewers of his latest special SuperNature on Netflix.
Known for his brash and unapologetic approach, Gervais has sparked heated debate with material that many critics are now calling “dangerous” and “deeply offensive.”
In his Netflix debut The Special from May 2022 Gervais talks about sensitive subjects through his sarcastic writing and jokes about gender identity, HIV background and religion.
Community leaders of LGBTQ+ organizations strongly disapprove of Gervais’s content.
People primarily objects to Gervais’s opinions about transgender women.
“Oh, women! Most traditional women do not fit into this definition. Accompanying his studio audience laugh track in the special he states “Old-fashioned women who carry children in their bodies”.
His speech centers around his positive feelings towards the newest generation of women. They’re great, aren’t they? We have noticed them appearing regularly at present. The ones with beards and c****. They match my standards of excellence which makes me enjoy them.
People strongly reacted against it.
The leading organization GLAAD criticized Ricky Gervais’s transgender jokes through their public statement.
“We watched the Ricky Gervais ‘comedy’ special on Netflix so you don’t have to. GLAAD exposes the show as fake humor that promotes transphobia through violent images.
“He also spouts anti-gay rhetoric and spreads inaccurate information about HIV.”
Other segments from the show also generated negative reactions.
Through his stand-up performance Gervais shares a humorous commentary about HIV/AIDS and its current effects. The explosion of AIDS as a health issue actually served people well during its peak although now it shows weaknesses like other infections do.
Based on the mannerisms of 80s men avoiding HIV in the past this comedian positions his current medication comments. He will need medications until he dies.
Before the release Gervais conducted interviews hoping to prevent people from criticizing his ideas.
Gervais predicted listeners would react negatively through morbidly funny content on SiriusXM from Norton Roberts.
He likened his use of edgy humor to walking audiences “through a scary forest” before letting them laugh at the absurdity of their own fears.
During a Stick to Football interview Gervais declined to accept the notion of elimination.
Following official lawbreaks the only thing that qualifies as cancellation. He accepted that his opinion wouldn’t please everyone because that happens with everything on Earth.
He asserted everything he does needs an explanation showing how it remains acceptable.
He underlines this stance by saying “As a rights advocate I support every human right and trans rights qualify as fundamental rights.” Use your preferred pronouns. Live your identity the way you feel it exists within you.
“But meet me halfway, ladies,” he added. “Lose the c***. That’s all I’m saying.”
Netflix keeps providing its customers the freedom to decide what content they want after facing protests about Dave Chappelle’s The Closer.
The platform responded to past backlash with updated culture guidelines, emphasizing its commitment to “artistic expression” and “diverse voices.”
CEO Ted Sarandos explained during his interview that providing entertainment for every viewer leads to boring content.
Gervais continues exploring sensitive social issues in his new event series Mortality while maintaining his normal themes.
During his show the comedian tells jokes about Jimmy Savile Rosie Jones and religious law in Pakistan which cloaks girl abuse except for in Pakistan.
Despite all this, the real bombshell hit in recent days.
A united group of LGBTQ+ supporters joined by fans and critics uses social media to ask for an official end to Ricky Gervais’s career.
Protests have reignited, petitions are circulating demanding Netflix remove SuperNature, and GLAAD has urged the platform to be held accountable for “promoting hate under the veil of humor.”
Audience reaction to this incident will determine both the endurance of Gervais’s standing in his field and his survival strategy against future confrontations.
But one thing is clear — his “outrageously offensive” jokes have sparked a cultural firestorm that is far from over.
Feature image Credit: (Instagram/rickygervais) and (CanvaPro)