Page 2 | Has anyone saw Ricky Gervais latest video *TW*

justanothermanicmonday1 · 2023-12-01T01:09:05+00:00

He has recently posted a video on his tik tok of his Netflix special due out in a few weeks, and he's making fun of children with cancer. I could barely get through the video to be honest. Felt sick. I know there is dark humor but my god, surely this is too far?

Bales23 · 01/12/2023 07:20

BottleRocketInTheSky · 01/12/2023 01:23

It's more of a joke about humour, isn't it?

Thats how I took it.

Of all the men in the world that are bad, I don’t think Ricky Gervais is one of them.

Depends on your definition of "bad". In my opinion, he is mean and a bully. Uses his platform to take cheap shots at people who can't or are not in a position to respond. If I think of people with good character, he wouldn't be among them.

Magenta82 · 01/12/2023 08:02

justanothermanicmonday1 · 01/12/2023 01:26

If it's sailed over my head then can you explain?

I found it over all distasteful as did 95% of the comments under the Instagram posts ...

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He isn't making fun of kids with cancer.

The butt of the joke is people like you who don't understand that stand up is a performance and isn't real and just because a joke contains a reference to kids with cancer it doesn't mean they are the ones he is making fun of

CrispsandCheeseSandwich · 01/12/2023 08:53

fourelementary · 01/12/2023 07:18

I’ve always had a horrible reaction to RG. I actually want to punch him, like a visceral reaction. But even I don’t disagree with his point and his stance in this situation. I can see he is a talented writer and comedian and an
intelligent man. But I do hate him. But sorry @justanothermanicmonday1 you’re in the wrong here.

I was going to comment with something similar.

I do not like Gervais. Don't know why, but I don't find him funny, wouldn't watch his stand up, don't like him being interviewed etc. But I disagree with the OP about this clip.

EarringsandLipstick · 01/12/2023 09:44

I agree with most of the posts - I am not an RG fan, just don't like his style of humour, but this is actually very clever, and in no way making fun of children with cancer, but the cultural norms we live in & our inability to have nuanced responses.

As much as I don't like him, what he does is important and he does it very well - that skewering of cancel culture and righteous indignation.

(Despite myself, I liked Afterlife - I didn't want to, I objected to parts, but think he nails the desperation & loneliness of grief so well)

oldwhyno · 01/12/2023 10:13

I think he's a comedian and can say what he likes, but stuff like this will polarise opinion. If I had a child going through cancer, especially if it was terminal, I might find that pretty hard to laugh at. The joke seems to be "ooh, check out all the nasty stuff I could say, but I don't because that only occurs to me in my head, I don't say it out loud."

This idea that he can say whatever he likes and dismiss offence because "it's a joke" and he's "playing a role" is pretty dangerous I think. I loved how he lampooned the obviously ridiculous trans activism, but I think he has to tread a bit carefully. If he misjudges one of these routines and large parts of the public decide he's just being an arsehole, the TRA's will jump on that as proof he was just being an arsehole to trans people.

CavalierApproach · 01/12/2023 10:38

oldwhyno · 01/12/2023 10:13

I think he's a comedian and can say what he likes, but stuff like this will polarise opinion. If I had a child going through cancer, especially if it was terminal, I might find that pretty hard to laugh at. The joke seems to be "ooh, check out all the nasty stuff I could say, but I don't because that only occurs to me in my head, I don't say it out loud."

This idea that he can say whatever he likes and dismiss offence because "it's a joke" and he's "playing a role" is pretty dangerous I think. I loved how he lampooned the obviously ridiculous trans activism, but I think he has to tread a bit carefully. If he misjudges one of these routines and large parts of the public decide he's just being an arsehole, the TRA's will jump on that as proof he was just being an arsehole to trans people.

The joke seems to be "ooh, check out all the nasty stuff I could say, but I don't because that only occurs to me in my head, I don't say it out loud."

I don’t think that’s what the joke seems to be at all!

TheCatfordCat · 01/12/2023 11:41

He makes the joke, then unfortunately explains it. He's playing a "role". Is Ricky actually a cruel bastard? Or is he saying these things just to shock and stretch the boundaries of taste? If he said the joke and left it at that, we could make up our own mind. But he pulls the joke apart and explains it, which spoils it slightly but it's his insurance against the pearl-clutchers.

Finteq · 01/12/2023 11:46

I did find it offensive.

And if my kid was sick, it probably would have made me cry.

SandandSky · 01/12/2023 11:53

Not personally a RG fan but he is admittedly very clever. Going to have to disagree with you in this one OP.

lots of comedy is divisive and won’t be to everyone’s taste

SandandSky · 01/12/2023 11:59

Finteq · 01/12/2023 11:46

I did find it offensive.

And if my kid was sick, it probably would have made me cry.

A woman at Edinburgh fringe recently did a stand up show about when she had a miscarriage and I wouldn’t have been able to watch it. I was going through it and couldn’t listen to the radio, see pregnant people in public, hear about other peoples kids and lost more things without breaking down. But that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t do her show.

feralunderclass · 01/12/2023 12:14

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Finteq · 01/12/2023 12:19

SandandSky · 01/12/2023 11:59

A woman at Edinburgh fringe recently did a stand up show about when she had a miscarriage and I wouldn’t have been able to watch it. I was going through it and couldn’t listen to the radio, see pregnant people in public, hear about other peoples kids and lost more things without breaking down. But that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t do her show.

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Regardless.

I wouldn't have laughed at that.

I understand how he took the joke apart. But don't understand why he would go there.

It's not a defence to say- oh it's just a joke,I'm just playing a role.

You can just see the idiots lining up,quoting him,when a kid makes a wish from the Make a Wish Foundation. " Oh why didn't you just wish to get better, oh look how hilarious i am. I'm dead funny me!"

And if anyone gets offended- " Oh it's just a joke- you don't know how to take a joke".

You say it won't happen,but there's plenty of idiots in the world.

feralunderclass · 01/12/2023 12:50

I'm not sure why my comment was deleted, when it was quoting one of the words that RG was repeating multiple times?
ETA: or are offensive words only against the rules when written down?

SgtJuneAckland · 01/12/2023 12:53

Gervais is a twat, DH used to work with him, but this bit isn't about making fun of kids with cancer OP. He's trying to explain how humour itself works

DoIReallyNeedToDoThis · 01/12/2023 12:56

I saw him live where he said that one of the reasons he didn’t have children is that his partner would go out for the night and the baby would probably die.

4998 people around me laughed and my friend and I sat there wondering on what planet that was funny. But we were in the minority.

I applaud his policy on saying anything, to be honest. It’s not his responsibility to censor what he says.

peachgreen · 01/12/2023 13:00

I find his "you can't say anything any more, everyone who doesn't find me funny is just a professionally offended snowflake!!!" schtick utterly tiresome. No mate, I'm not offended, I just think your comedy is tired at best, cheap and nasty at worst. This clip is no different. He's trying to be outrageous but it's been done before (and better).

TossieFleacake · 01/12/2023 13:01

I've been to see quite a bit of live comedy this year, including Ricky's show.
In every single performance the comedians spoke about 'the professionally offended' and how most of the complaints are from people who have totally missed the point, and have tried to find offence with the performance.
It's comedy, some will find it funny, some won't, if you don't then just don't watch that type of comedy. Simple.

JemimaTiggywinkles · 01/12/2023 13:03

I'm not sure why my comment was deleted, when it was quoting one of the words that RG was repeating multiple times?

Different platforms allow different words. Mumsnet will delete posts for loads of words that are often on youtube, or in the cinema or on TV after the watershed.

What RG is saying in his video is likely to be very offensive to some people so I can choose not to watch it. Whereas I know mumsnet deletes those words so I choose to read this forum. The viewer / reader / listener has a right to decide what they want to consume.

tuttifuckinfruity · 01/12/2023 13:04

I'm a big fan of RG.

I don't find this joke particularly funny, but I do understand what he is doing and don't find it offensive. Close to the bone, yes, but I understand what he's doing.

He is a very clever man.

tuttifuckinfruity · 01/12/2023 13:05

oldwhyno · 01/12/2023 10:13

I think he's a comedian and can say what he likes, but stuff like this will polarise opinion. If I had a child going through cancer, especially if it was terminal, I might find that pretty hard to laugh at. The joke seems to be "ooh, check out all the nasty stuff I could say, but I don't because that only occurs to me in my head, I don't say it out loud."

This idea that he can say whatever he likes and dismiss offence because "it's a joke" and he's "playing a role" is pretty dangerous I think. I loved how he lampooned the obviously ridiculous trans activism, but I think he has to tread a bit carefully. If he misjudges one of these routines and large parts of the public decide he's just being an arsehole, the TRA's will jump on that as proof he was just being an arsehole to trans people.

Good point about the trans issue.

jolaylasofia · 01/12/2023 13:06

i don't think you understand. he's not making fun of kids with cancer at all. He's a really decent person to be honest.

thedamnseason · 01/12/2023 13:07

peachgreen · 01/12/2023 13:00

I find his "you can't say anything any more, everyone who doesn't find me funny is just a professionally offended snowflake!!!" schtick utterly tiresome. No mate, I'm not offended, I just think your comedy is tired at best, cheap and nasty at worst. This clip is no different. He's trying to be outrageous but it's been done before (and better).

Absolutely this. 👏👏

oldwhyno · 01/12/2023 14:53

CavalierApproach · 01/12/2023 10:38

The joke seems to be "ooh, check out all the nasty stuff I could say, but I don't because that only occurs to me in my head, I don't say it out loud."

I don’t think that’s what the joke seems to be at all!

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He's making the audience laugh with offensive remarks he doesn't actually say to children in hospital. So if not that, what is the joke then?

Goatymum · 01/12/2023 16:37

You go and see comedy and it’s always going to be close to the bone. I think he’s just saying his comedy ‘persona’ is not ‘really’ him, but not sure how clever that is -yes, no-one thinks Hopkins is a cannibal, cos he’s an actor, and so is RG from his own perspective. That’s basically what he’s saying - he’s not going to go up to a kid w cancer and call him baldy and a r*d is he? Cos he’s not a sociopath!

Morred · 01/12/2023 16:46

Goatymum · 01/12/2023 16:37

You go and see comedy and it’s always going to be close to the bone. I think he’s just saying his comedy ‘persona’ is not ‘really’ him, but not sure how clever that is -yes, no-one thinks Hopkins is a cannibal, cos he’s an actor, and so is RG from his own perspective. That’s basically what he’s saying - he’s not going to go up to a kid w cancer and call him baldy and a r*d is he? Cos he’s not a sociopath!

I agree, and also agree that it’s not all that clever. Why is Hopkins pretending to be a cannibal? That’s the story, it about exploring xyz or whatever, it’s fictional. You can argue it’s art.

Why is Gervais pretending to be a comedian who makes jokes about kids with cancer? What’s the point? To prove some people laugh at sick humour?