Ricky Gervais finds himself embroiled in controversy once again due to a jest featured in his upcoming Netflix special, “Armageddon,” which has yet to be released. A preview clip, shared by the comedian, showcases Gervais making light of terminally ill children, using terms like “baldy” and the R-slur. As a response, over 12,000 individuals have joined a Change.org petition urging Netflix to eliminate the controversial joke from Gervais’ stand-up special set to debut on December 25.
Following the contentious moment in “Armageddon,” Gervais hastily addresses the audience, clarifying, “These are all jokes, all right? I don’t even use that word in real life, the R-word. … I’m playing a role.” In a conversation with Nihal Arthanayake on BBC Radio 5 Live’s “Headliners” podcast, Gervais dismisses the criticism as “faux” outrage and likens the petitioners to mere “hecklers.”
Gervais asserts, “I can play to a million people, I won’t get a complaint. As soon as it goes on Netflix or as soon as someone writes up a joke that says this is offensive, people go, ‘Oh, that’s offensive.’ They haven’t even heard the joke. They weren’t there. Ignore them. They don’t count. They have no effect on me. They don’t count. They’re hecklers.”
Organized by Anna Villa, a parent who declares her child courageously battled cancer, the petition contends that Gervais’ recent skit on Netflix is not just disrespectful but deeply hurtful. Villa emphasizes that the jokes not only lack taste but are also heartless, deeming them a disservice to the children facing life-threatening illnesses and their families who support them.
“Our children are not a punchline, their lives aren’t a joke,” Villa asserts. “This is why we demand that Netflix remove this offensive skit from its platform immediately. We believe that comedy should never come at the expense of someone else’s pain or suffering — especially when it involves innocent children battling life-threatening illnesses.”
Gervais acknowledges that causing offense is an “occupational hazard” for comedians but points out that social media amplifies heckling, akin to “shouting out of a window.” He expresses his enjoyment of ignoring such reactions, explaining that being ignored has a similar psychological impact as being slapped in the face.
While Gervais steers clear of politics, he notes that on stage, he may embody a left-wing or right-wing persona, depending on the joke. He dispels the notion that a joke reflects a comedian’s true soul, emphasizing that it is merely a form of expression.
Addressing critics of his new special, Gervais states, “They’re allowed to hate it. They’re allowed to not come to the show, but it’s not going to stop me doing what I love, and I’m not going to stop it at the expense of all the other people who love it. No one has to watch this.”
In anticipation of potential backlash, Gervais issues his own content warning on Twitter, stating, “In this show, I talk about sex, death, paedophilia, race, religion, disability, free speech, global warming, the Holocaust and Elton John. If you don’t approve of jokes about any of these things, then please don’t watch. You won’t enjoy it and you’ll get upset.”
This isn’t the first time Gervais has faced criticism for his Netflix specials, as his previous offering, “SuperNature,” drew ire for jokes mocking trans individuals. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos defended both Gervais and Dave Chappelle, emphasizing that comedians occasionally “cross the line.”
