Ricky Gervais’ trans jokes on new Netflix special called ‘dangerous’
Ricky Gervais’ new Netflix comedy special debuted on Tuesday and it’s already garnering backlash for jokes aimed at the transgender community.
The British comedian’s special “SuperNature” took a controversial, no-holds-barred approach with lines on a variety of sensitive topics.
“I talk about AIDS, famine, cancer, the Holocaust, rape, pedophilia, but no, the one thing you mustn’t joke about is identity politics. The one thing you should never joke about is the trans issue. [Advocates for trans people say] ‘they just wanna be treated equally.’ I agree. That’s why I include them,” Gervais quips during the standup set. Earlier, Gervais makes a distinction of “old-fashioned women” as “the ones with wombs” and “new women” as “the ones with beards and [penises].”
Gervais also jokes that he wishes gender identity was around when he was a kid so that he could use it to his advantage by threatening his parents that he would either be trans or they can get him a new bike.
Later he admits to sharing “misinformed” rhetoric and being “childish,” but preferred to be provocative in comedy.
“We’re not trying to offend. That’s not our aim,” he said of controversial comedians. “We’re trying to make you laugh. Trying to make you have a good time.”
Negative reactions appeared quickly on social media, and the activist group GLAAD, which monitors media coverage of LGBTQ issues, said Gervais’ special “is full of graphic, dangerous, anti-trans rants masquerading as jokes. He also spouts anti-gay rhetoric & spreads inaccurate information about HIV.”
GLAAD continued: “Netflix has a policy that content ‘designed to incite hate or violence’ is not allowed on their platform, but we all know that anti-LGBTQ content does exactly that.’’