When he first created the character in 2001 for a Fringe show called rubberneckers - the title for the show comes from the fact that, the writers claim, there will be bits you shouldn’t watch, but will be compelled to, in the same way as a car crash.
Derek was described as 'it’s time for Derek, a misunderstood young man who has a bad habit of "sending creatures to Jesus". A new character from Ricky Gervais, Derek is another horror that left many people in hysterics - you know you’re not supposed to laugh, but you can’t help yourself.
Now tell me where the sympathy is here? I believe as Gervais grew in popularity he was afraid of this coming back out the woodwork, particularly given his casual use of 'Mong' and has tried to be all clever and back peddling like a fiend to defend it as something it certainly never was.