London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

Ricky Gervais defends 'taboo' comedy after backlash

Ricky Gervais defends 'taboo' comedy after backlash

Ricky Gervais has defended making jokes about "taboo subjects" after his new Netflix special drew criticism.

In SuperNature, the stand-up comedian makes a string of what he describes as ironic and satirical jokes about trans people, female comedians and Aids.

US LGBT rights group Glaad labelled the show "dangerous", "anti-gay" and "anti trans" after its release on Tuesday.

However, Gervais told BBC One's The One Show on Tuesday that comedy is for "getting us over taboo subjects".

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."


'These are just jokes'


He said audience members go through a mixture of emotions when hearing a near-the-knuckle joke. "It starts and they go, what's he going to say? I tell the joke. Phew, they laugh.

"It's like a parachute jump - it's scary, but then you land and it's all OK.

"I think that's what comedy is for - getting us over taboo subjects so they're not scary any more. So I deal with everything. And I think we second guess the audience too much."

However, Glaad took issue with his latest routine, with officials posting on the group's Twitter page: "It's full of graphic, dangerous, anti-trans rants masquerading as jokes. He also spouts anti-gay rhetoric an spreads inaccurate information about HIV."

They also said Netflix "refuses" to enforce its own policy that content "designed to incite hate or violence" is not allowed on its platform.


In his special, Gervais explained that for each joke, he momentarily takes whatever stance would make it funnier - "without prejudice" - and that the gags do not represent his actual views.

"In real life, of course I support trans rights," he said. "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," he said before adding a punchline about trans women. He also referred to Eddie Izzard, who has identified as being gender fluid and has requested she/her pronouns.

Gervais also said "it's mad to think that joking about something means you're anti-it".

On The One Show, Gervais referred to his darkly comic Netflix series After Life, saying some had questioned whether the audience can "take this".

"Of course they can," he continued. "Real life is much worse. These are just jokes. They don't mean anything. They're just for you to laugh for an hour or so. So that's why I deal in taboo subjects."

His comments come amid a broader debate around what is acceptable to joke about in a comedy.

Last year, some viewers and Netflix staff complained about a stand-up special by US comedian Dave Chappelle, which they said was transphobic.

Chappelle was attacked in stage earlier this month, with the man suspected of attacking him telling The New York Post he had found the parts of his routine about the LGBTQ+ community and the homelessness "triggering".

Jimmy Carr was heavily criticised earlier this year for part of another Netflix special that included material about the murders of hundreds of thousands of people from Europe's traveller communities in the Holocaust.

Earlier this month, the streaming giant reportedly told staff it supports "the artistic expression of the creators we choose to work with", and they could leave if they did not like it.

According to Variety, the company said in an internal document: "We program for a diversity of audiences and tastes; and we let viewers decide what's appropriate for them, versus having Netflix censor specific artists or voices.

"As employees we support the principle that Netflix offers a diversity of stories, even if we find some titles counter to our own personal values.

"Depending on your role, you may need to work on titles you perceive to be harmful. If you'd find it hard to support our content breadth, Netflix may not be the best place for you."


Omid Djalili: Clever comedians can navigate cancel culture


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×