Ricky Gervais doesn’t think the joke he made at Caitlyn Jenner’s expense during Sunday’s Golden Globes show was over the line, and claims that not every joke about Jenner is “automatically transphobic.”
“Suggesting a joke about Caitlin [sic] Jenner is automatically transphobic is like suggesting a joke about Bill Cosby is automatically racist,” he tweeted Tuesday.
In his opening monologue at the 73rd annual Golden Globes, Gervais targeted Jenner after stating that he was “going to be nice tonight” and had changed, but “not as much as Bruce Jenner.”
“What a year she’s had,” Gervais said. “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, can you?”
The joke referenced a four-car crash that Jenner was involved in last February, which killed another motorist. The line was met with some awkward laughs and gasps at the awards show, but was met with outrage on Twitter.
Ricky Gervais is back as Golden Globes host, and it took about 3.2 seconds for a bigoted trash joke. Deadnaming Caitlyn Jenner. 🚮🚮🚮
— eiridescent (@eiridescent) January 11, 2016
Ugh, come on, @rickygervais. You can make fun of @Caitlyn_Jenner without dead-naming. #disappointed #GoldenGlobes
— Zack Ford (@ZackFord) January 11, 2016
Ricky Gervais toeing the line towards transphobia with a strange mention of Caitlyn Jenner #GoldenGlobes
— J. Goldfinch (@JynnaSolo) January 11, 2016
“You have every right to be offended,” Gervais wrote in a separate tweet. “Just don’t cry when no one cares.”
“Hosting The Globes has made me want to do a new stand up show next year,” he added in another. “Now THAT’S when you’re allowed to be offended.”
Suggesting a joke about Caitlin Jenner is automatically transphobic is like suggesting a joke about Bill Cosby is automatically racist.
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 12, 2016
You have every right to be offended. Just don't cry when no one cares.
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 12, 2016
Hosting The Globes has made me want to do a new stand up show next year. Now THAT'S when you're allowed to be offended. You whiney cunts 🙂
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 12, 2016