Golden Globes: Ricky Gervais Defends Caitlyn Jenner Joke

Ricky Gervais took to Twitter on Tuesday to defend himself against criticism that some of his Golden Globes jokes were transphobic.

“Suggesting a joke about Caitlin Jenner is automatically transphobic is like suggesting a joke about Bill Cosby is automatically racist,” said Gervais.

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

What if it was about her killing someone with her car? Would that be ok? https://t.co/IvAttciK7x

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 12, 2016

But it WAS Bruce Jenner who changed. Into Caitlyn Jenner. And I respect that. Just not her driving. https://t.co/suU77u61o8

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 12, 2016

I made a joke about Caitlyn Jenner killing someone in her car. I’m #TransportPhobic.

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 12, 2016

During his opening monologue he made fun of Caityn Jenner’s fatal 2015 car accident. When he started the joke, he referred to Jenner by her birth name.

“I’m gonna be nice tonight,” said Gervais. “I’ve changed. Not as much as Bruce Jenner, obviously. Now Caitlyn Jenner, of course.” He went on to talk about what a role model Jenner is and then mocked her driving skills.

On social media, people said Gervais “deadnamed” Jenner, using the name she had before her transition. After trans people have adopted a new name, using an old name can be seen as implying a lack of acceptance, similar to misgendering a trans person with the incorrect pronoun.

Ricky went from deadnaming Caitlyn Jenner to talking about what Jeffrey Tambor does with his package. Waiting for The Danish Girl … :-/

— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) January 11, 2016

There are a billionty great Caitlyn Jenner jokes. Calling her “Bruce” isn’t one of them.

— Emerson Collins (@ActuallyEmerson) January 11, 2016

Gervais was also criticized for mocking Jeffrey Tambor in Transparent and Eddie Redmayne in The Danish Girl. 

On Twitter, he said he doesn’t care about being offensive and is inspired by the backlash to do a new stand-up show next year.

I fucking love it when you all argue.

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 12, 2016

Viewer: I’m offended by a joke you made. Me: So? Viewer: You gonna apologise? Me: No. Viewer: Then I won’t watch you again. Me: Correct

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 12, 2016

In the future, everyone will be offended by me for 15 minutes. pic.twitter.com/sTiLO5p9w0

— 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

Do people not realise that when they say they are offended by a joke it makes that joke even funnier for the rest of us.

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 12, 2016

If jokes caused the easily offended to bleed internally, I’d do more stand up. pic.twitter.com/ScuOKExtwv

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 12, 2016