Comedian and actor Ricky Gervais has issued a sharp retort to critics of his latest Netflix stand-up special, directly addressing accusations that he 'moans' about being cancelled. The 64-year-old star's show, titled 'Mortality', was released globally on the streaming platform on Tuesday, 30th December, after being recorded at the London Palladium.
Gervais Declares Comedy 'Victory' Over Offence Culture
In the special, Gervais tackles what he describes as a "really weird time" for comedy over the past decade. He told his Palladium audience that comedians have been forced to second-guess their material, but claimed a decisive win for free expression. "People find anything offensive, but we pushed back, and we won. So f*** them," he declared.
The creator of The Office stated that despite multiple attempts to cancel him due to his provocative material, all such efforts have failed. "They've always failed. I'm too old now not to say what I want," Gervais asserted, emphasising his commitment to performing without restraint.
Taking Aim at 'Virtue-Signalling' and Social Media
A significant portion of Gervais's critique focused on the phenomenon of 'virtue-signalling', which he directly linked to the rise of social media. He argued that platforms allow people to claim moral superiority without evidence, simply to elevate their own status by criticising others.
"With the advent of social media, people suddenly discovered they could just say they were virtuous. No evidence, no proof, just loads of flags in their bio," he explained in the show. He described the most irritating aspect as "people being smug about having the morality of the age."
Direct Response to Social Media Critic
Despite 'Mortality' reaching number one in the Netflix charts and garnering significant praise, it also attracted criticism. One social media user accused Gervais of "whining about being 'canceled' from the center of the world's biggest stage" while profiting from a Netflix deal, calling his rebellion a "safe-space."
Gervais did not hesitate to respond. "I’ve never moaned about being cancelled because I’ve never been cancelled," he fired back. He clarified that his concern lies with ordinary people facing repercussions for their opinions. "I have moaned about nurses and teachers and office workers being cancelled for stating honest opinions under certain authoritarian trends though. Luckily we’re coming out of that phase though." He ended his retort with a sardonic, "Thanks for watching."
The exchange underscores the ongoing cultural debate about comedy, cancel culture, and free speech, with Gervais firmly positioning himself as a comedian who has weathered the storm and emerged, in his view, victorious.
