British comedian Ricky Gervais has launched a blistering attack on his detractors in his latest stand-up special for Netflix, released this week.
Gervais Defiant in London Palladium Show
The new hour-long show, titled Mortality, was filmed at the iconic London Palladium. In it, Gervais directly addresses those who have criticised his material in recent years, labelling them as "middle-class", "elitist", and "privileged" individuals. He uses the platform to robustly assert his right to comedic free speech, dismissing accusations from fellow comics that his humour constitutes "punching down".
A History of Provocative Material
This defiant stance follows significant backlash from Gervais's previous specials. His 2022 Netflix show, Supernature, drew criticism for jokes aimed at the transgender community. The following year, his 2023 special Armageddon sparked further outrage for material concerning young people with cancer.
In Mortality, Gervais continues to tackle highly contentious subjects. The set includes routines covering disability, paedophilia, racism, and child killers. One notable segment features a joke where the comedian imagines himself as a slave owner.
The Right to Offend?
The central theme of the special appears to be Gervais's unwavering defence of his comedic boundaries. He confronts the critique head-on, positioning his critics as an out-of-touch elite while framing his own work as an exercise in artistic liberty. The release on Tuesday 30 December 2025 ensures the debate around offence, privilege, and the limits of comedy will continue into the new year.
By returning to the London Palladium and directly engaging with the controversy, Gervais solidifies his status as one of Britain's most deliberately provocative comedic voices, refusing to be tempered by public criticism.
