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Has anyone saw Ricky Gervais latest video *TW*

128 replies

justanothermanicmonday1 · 01/12/2023 01:09

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?

OP posts:
Nochocolateuntilchristmas · 04/12/2023 10:08

I wasn't offended by it, but didn't find the joke funny either. I love Ricky Gervais btw.

Whatineed · 04/12/2023 10:13

PMAalltheway · 01/12/2023 01:37

I feel it was a step too far. I'm always open for comics to have free speech but some things should be off limits.

Then it's not free speech, is it?

peachgreen · 04/12/2023 10:30

People seem to get a bit confused about the concept of free speech though. Free speech means he can say it without being arrested which is, with a few noteable exceptions for inciting violence and hate speech, the case in the UK. But it doesn’t mean that a) he has a right to have it broadcasted or b) nobody is allowed to criticise him for saying it.

EachandEveryone · 04/12/2023 10:46

I saw this show live and it is just genius. Even with my bald chemo head. Never laughed so much. And I honestly took what he said about us not meant to be living as long as we have so far on board. Hes right. And all we do is screw up the planet. And he loves animals gives millions to them.

not that Id want to live with him, mind. Jane must be a saint 😃

Lfhm · 04/12/2023 12:01

I'm just so, so glad that this has enabled you all to feel free to laugh about tough things like childhood cancer, racism, transphobia, war etc. I'm sure all the people actually going through this are very grateful too. I can't wait for my seven-year old cancer patient to be called a baldy or retard at school. Just as long as you all feel comfortable to laugh about it!

Think I'll leave this thread now as it's just too completely and utterly depressing.

Lfhm · 04/12/2023 12:16

I have and thank you!!!!

TheKnittedCharacter · 04/12/2023 12:24

He’s not making fun of children with cancer at all.

CavalierApproach · 04/12/2023 12:53

Surely the point of making it okay to laugh about tough or distressing things (not necessarily “at” them; that’s a bit different, I think) is to empower the people who are living through them, or have done, to do the laughing.

It’s not to say that anyone has to laugh, and if you’re not in that place then of course you won’t want to.

But people have to be allowed to laugh if it helps them cope. Without being judged for it. And it does help lots of people. Someone on this thread going through chemo is saying it helps her. My friend who recently died of cancer also found it helpful. Even her children found it helpful to make jokes about the shitness of it all.

No one here is supporting the notion of empowering imaginary people who have nothing awful in their lives to laugh at the expense of those who do. I‘m not sure many people like that even exist. More of us than not will experience awful things, of different types, at different points in our lives.

Oxonc3 · 04/12/2023 13:30

@CavalierApproach several adult patients have indeed commented. But you and many of the other posters seem to ignore that those of us on this thread with children undergoing cancer treatment, the little ones who have to go into school or to the shops bald, who face the stares and the unkind comments and who undergo incredibly intensive treatments with life long side effects do not find it funny or helpful. Adults can choose for themselves. Adult patients may of course find it ‘helpful’. But those of us living this nightmare of childhood cancer do not.

I think only one poster has addressed me or @Lfhm directly. It is sadly not that surprising as until is your child that is the baldie/ret*td you cannot possibly comprehend what this life is like. We will head back to the ‘Life limiting illness’ and ‘childhood cancer’ threads where there is some empathy and the people on here won’t have to think about us.

peachgreen · 04/12/2023 13:36

CavalierApproach · 04/12/2023 12:53

Surely the point of making it okay to laugh about tough or distressing things (not necessarily “at” them; that’s a bit different, I think) is to empower the people who are living through them, or have done, to do the laughing.

It’s not to say that anyone has to laugh, and if you’re not in that place then of course you won’t want to.

But people have to be allowed to laugh if it helps them cope. Without being judged for it. And it does help lots of people. Someone on this thread going through chemo is saying it helps her. My friend who recently died of cancer also found it helpful. Even her children found it helpful to make jokes about the shitness of it all.

No one here is supporting the notion of empowering imaginary people who have nothing awful in their lives to laugh at the expense of those who do. I‘m not sure many people like that even exist. More of us than not will experience awful things, of different types, at different points in our lives.

Edited

That's fine if the person making the jokes has the lived experience to back it up. Big difference between finding humour in your own tragedy than simply making fun of someone else's.

ElderMillenials · 04/12/2023 14:08

The joke isn't actually about cancer or children with cancer though. You don't have to watch his shows, but you should understand that he's not personally attacking you or your child. He's actually making a totally different point but using such an emotive subject to do that is marketing genius.

Controversy is where RG exists, it's his thing. He knows where the line is and has even himself made the point that it's ok to have material as long as it's not at the expense of the 'victim' (victim used here because it's the word I could find right now- replace with patient/sufferer/oppressed or whatever).

Mothmansknickers · 04/12/2023 14:28

I hate the R word. I have a child with DS and every time someone says it, it's like a dagger to the heart. I get that it's just a joke to Ricky, and I do laugh at a lot of his stuff, but I can't help my visceral reaction to that word.

Cumberbiatch · 04/12/2023 14:33

His comedy is all about pointing at people and laughing. He's exactly, exactly like a playground bully. His series Derek was a cruel, unkind disgrace and he doesn't give a shit about the people he's hurting, but will virtue signal all the fucking time about how much he loves dogs.
Twat.

Diamonde · 04/12/2023 14:34

Unless you have a child who passed of cancer, this isn't offensive to the point that you shouldn't be able listen to it. It wasn't that bad.

And if you actually listened til the end, the use of the r-word was a good example of irony. Ricky answers your question for you.

Diamonde · 04/12/2023 14:36

I GET the joke, I don't find it funny, but I'm not stupid. So please don't explain it to me. But it's the language he uses. 'Baldy'. 'Retard'. 'Why don't you wish to get better?'.

I don't find it ha-ha funny but come on. As he said in the video, he's playing a role. It's basically him describing a skit

Why didn't you wish to get better, is clearly not something he actually says. That's why it's supposed to be comedy

pickledandpuzzled · 04/12/2023 14:51

Children shouldn’t be watching this- if you’re young and stupid enough to copy Ricky Gervais then you’re too young to watch him.

This is adult humour.

It’s funny because it takes our darkest thoughts and fears and lays them out for inspection.

A bit like laughing at the Boggle in Harry Potter.

I think when we’re in that place we do mutter bitterly about ’make a wish- as if that’ll help’. RG saying it out loud relieves us of the guilt of thinking it.

I have triggers that I avoid, can’t enjoy the joke. It’s not a reason no one else should, though.

Lfhm · 04/12/2023 15:37

As I said, I get the joke. The idea of him turning up uninvited at sick kid's bedside is funny! And as I explained, it's the bullying language he uses that shocked me. He could have easily made the joke about kids not wanting him to send them video messages without using those words and phrases.

I love that so many people are not offended by this. How lucky you are!! I'm also not offended personally when he makes jokes about trans people, gay people, disabled people. Why would I be, having not experienced it personally? But I also do not condone it in any way and have empathy with those who find it offensive.

He's like that friend at school that says something offensive only to follow up quickly with 'I'm only joking!'. A bully basically.

Lfhm · 04/12/2023 15:41

Wow you seriously think that kids should wish to get better? You don't think that they and their families wish for that every day? Unfortunately there isn't enough funding for childhood cancer treatments so a trip to Disneyland will have to do!

JanglingJack · 04/12/2023 15:44

Love Ricky, he only offends people who choose to be offended.

I think your TW in the title went further than he did.

Save the donkeys!

PrimalLass · 04/12/2023 15:47

He's used something shocking that he would never say or think to make a point about criticism of comedians.

Lfhm · 04/12/2023 16:03

Sorry I don't understand all the Mumsnet abbreviations. I only joined to comment on this.

Enjoy your chats! Byeeeeeeeeeeeee

pickledandpuzzled · 04/12/2023 20:21

Lfhm · 04/12/2023 15:41

Wow you seriously think that kids should wish to get better? You don't think that they and their families wish for that every day? Unfortunately there isn't enough funding for childhood cancer treatments so a trip to Disneyland will have to do!

No! I’m saying as a parent I’ve been irritated by the language of ‘make a wish’. I think you are seeing it from the inside and are fortunate enough to be a lovely person. I’m a sceptic. I struggle with optimism and hope in life and death situations. When DF was diagnosed with terminal cancer I was all about planning, facing up to reality. DM was all about being strong and beating the odds.

LongTermLurker · 04/12/2023 20:47

I'm torn. I think RG is very funny, clever, and as far as I can tell has ethics/values that I heartily agree with. But that clip did make me wince and feel kind of sick for anyone who's dealing with childhood cancer. There's handful of subjects that just feel like a gut punch, and drain every drop off humour from me.

LongTermLurker · 04/12/2023 20:58

@Lfhm and any other parent dealing with childhood cancer, I wish you all the very best Flowers

EachandEveryone · 05/12/2023 11:19

I don’t think the people upset have watched the clip to the end where he explains