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Did Ricky Gervais go too far with barrage of jokes?

ZEROING in on Caitlyn Jenner and the TV show Transparent was a step too far for some at the Golden Globes.

Nick BondNick Bond
@bondnickbond
5 min read
January 11, 2016 - 3:11PM
Ricky Gervais’s opening monologue made for some uncomfortable viewing at times. Picture: Getty Images
Ricky Gervais’s opening monologue made for some uncomfortable viewing at times. Picture: Getty Images

HE WAS never going to be polite, but some are questioning Ricky Gervais’ choice of targets during his frequently shocking Golden Globes opening monologue.

Specifically, it was Gervais’ repeated jokes about transgender issues that drew social media ire — and unimpressed looks from some of the stars in attendance.

Promising not to offend anyone, Gervais insisted that “I’ve changed. Not as much as Bruce Jenner, obviously. Now Caitlyn Jenner, of course. What a year she’s had. She became a role model for trans people everywhere, showing great bravery in breaking down barriers and destroying stereotypes. She didn’t do a lot for women drivers, but ... you can’t have everything.”

Jenner, who is not at the ceremony, was involved in a fatal car accident last year in which another driver was killed.

Ricky Gervais made several transgender jokes at the ceremony, discussing Caitlyn Jenner’s transition. Picture: AP
Ricky Gervais made several transgender jokes at the ceremony, discussing Caitlyn Jenner’s transition. Picture: AP

Gervais then turned his attention to Transparent star Jeffrey Tambor, who plays transgender woman Maura Pfefferman in the hit Amazon show.

As Gervais first mentioned Tambor, the camera cut to the actor who wore a thin smile, no doubt worrying about what would come next.

A slightly nervous-looking Jeffrey Tambor.
A slightly nervous-looking Jeffrey Tambor.

Gervais then expressed mock amazement about Tambor playing a transgender woman, pondering what the actor does to hide his “long balls” while in character. “Every day he has to put on women’s clothes and makeup and let people film it. That takes balls. I don’t know how he does it,” he said, asking whether Tambor tucked his genitals behind his legs or hid them inside himself.

Tellingly, the camera did not cut back to Tambor after this for a reaction shot.

Gervais returned to the transgender theme later on in the evening when introducing Eddie Redmayne, who plays real-life transgender artist Lili Elbe in his latest film The Danish Girl.

Describing the next presenter as a “beautiful and talented actress,” Gervais paused and pretented to do a double-take at his cue card before announcing: “IT’S A DUDE.”

Needless to say, after 12 months in which public visibility and understanding for the transgender community have improved immeasurably, some were less than impressed:

While Gervais’ flurry of transgender jokes received the most criticism, he also touched on topics including pay equality, childhood sexual abuse, the holocaust and infidelity — leaving many in the audience squirming in their seats.

Turning his attention to Jennifer Lawrence and her public stance about the Hollywood pay gap, Gervais joked that “there were marches on the street with teachers and nurses saying how the hell could a 25-year-old live on $58 million?”

Referencing last year’s hosts, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Gervais stated that he’s “getting paid the same as Tina and Amy did last year ... there’s two of them. It’s not my fault they want to share the money. It’s funny ‘cos it’s true.”

Gervais shocked the crowd with a joke about controversial film Spotlight, which looks at the cover-up of childhood sexual abuse by Catholic priests: “Roman Polanski called it the best date movie ever,” he announced, to audible gasps from the audience, including a shot of a shocked-looking Maggie Gyllenhaal:

Polish/French director Polanski was arrested in 1977 for the rape of a 13-year-old girl, and has in recent years faced the threat of further court action about the assault should he enter the United States.

Matt Damon doing his best to follow up that mic-drop of a joke from Ricky Gervais. Picture: AP
Matt Damon doing his best to follow up that mic-drop of a joke from Ricky Gervais. Picture: AP

Gervais used his monologue to address the assembled Hollywood A-listers as “disgusting, pill-popping, sexual deviant scum. I’m going to do this monologue and then go into hiding,” he promised.

“Not even Sean Penn will find me … snitch,” he said, referring to the actor’s recent interview with Mexican drug lord El Chapo.

If the celebs in the room thought they could breathe a sigh of relief once Gervais’ opening monologue was over, they were wrong. The comedian returned to the stage intermittently throughout the night, each time armed with another close-to-the-bone zinger.

He introduced Matt Damon as “the only person Ben Affleck hasn’t been unfaithful to,” leaving a shaken-looking Damon momentarily stunned when he took to the stage to present the next award. Rumours have swirled about Damon’s longtime friend and Good Will Hunting writing partner Affleck’s alleged infidelity in recent years.

And when introducing Eva Longoria and America Ferrera, Gervais got political by describing them as “two people who your future president, Donald Trump, can’t wait to deport.” Trump’s harsh anti-immigration views are particularly aimed at America’s large Latin population.

Gervais made the audience laugh when introducing African American comic Kevin Hart and Asian-American actor Ken Jeong, saying they would be ideal “children” for Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt to adopt.

On the films Joy and Trainwreck, he noted that they were “not the names of Charlie Sheen’s favourite hookers (but) the movies of these next two presenters”.

But perhaps the evening’s most surprising moment came when Gervais introduced one presenter, a man who’s frequently been the butt of his jokes: Mel Gibson.

How’s that for an awkward embrace.
How’s that for an awkward embrace.

Gervais went in hard on Gibson during his first Golden Globes hosting gig back in 2010, saying at the time: “I enjoy a drink as much as the next man. Unless the next man’s Mel Gibson.”

Introducing the scandal-plagued actor to the stage, Gervais had this to say:

“I wasn’t judging him, but now I find myself in the awkward position of having to introduce him again. I’m sure its embarrassing for both of us. I blame NBC for this terrible situation. Mel blames ... you know who Mel blames. I still feel a bit bad for it. Mel has forgotten all about it apparently. That’s what drinking does. I want to say something nice about Mel before he comes out. I’d rather have a drink with him in his hotel room tonight than with Bill Cosby.”

Coming back on stage to interrupt Gibson during his awards presentation, Gervais reverenced the infamous 2006 DUI incident in which Gibson allegedly called a female police officer ‘sugar tits’. “What the f**k does sugar tits even mean?” Gervais asked, before sauntering off stage again — leaving celebrities such as Alan Cumming stunned at the exchange:

As the ceremony wrapped after three long hours and the credits rolled, Gervais returned to the stage one final time to throw in one final crack: “That’s it, we’re out of time. From myself and Mel Gibson: Shalom.”

Gervais himself is typically unapologetic about any offence caused, tweeting this message while the ceremony was still running: “Can’t wait for people to start reporting that I offended some people at The Golden Globes. Of course I f***ing did.”

Earlier in the day, he tweeted a warning about what was to come, describing the Hollywood heavyweights he’d be entertaining as “humourless c***s.”

Originally published as Did Ricky Gervais go too far with barrage of jokes?

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