Ricky Gervais Releases Statement Ahead Of Golden Globes Hosting Gig
Outspoken British comedian Ricky Gervais knows how to stir the pot with controversy, and he's never been one to bite his tonuge. Though many believe he's merely a jolly English guy with a huge smile those familiar with Gervais will agree he is not one to hold back. And with his upcoming turn as the host for the seventy-seventh annual Golden Globe awards this Sunday Gervais is locked and loaded like a tongue-in-cheek insulting machine gun ready to spray his brand of humor all over the audience.
Related:
Golden Globes 2020: Who is Expected to Win Awards?
Golden Globe Host Ricky Gervais Stands By His Joke Roasting Tim Allen
Ricky Gervais on Why He Continues to Return to Hosting the Golden Globes Year After Year
Ricky Gervais Says He Has One Regret Abut Hosting The 2011 Golden Globes
Ricky Gervais Set to Host the "Golden Globes"
Many will remember Gervais' 2011 turn as the host of the Golden Globes where he rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. After all was said and done he left many folks angered by his brash candor, and reviews of his performance were less than complimentary. The Washington Post reported;
Somehow Gervais has lost some of his ability to be funny about being true. But why not let Robert Downey Jr. review the show, as Downey took the stage after Gervais introduced him with references to porn movies and stays at the Betty Ford Center: "Aside from the fact that it's been hugely mean-spirited with mildly sinister undertones, I'd say the vibe of the show has been pretty good so far, wouldn't you?"
Jokes about RDJ weren't the only moments that shocked fans at home and in the audience. Rolling Stone recounted a few of the jokes that did not go over well that year.
“There were a lot of big films that didn’t get nominated this year, nothing for Sex and the City 2. No, I was sure the Golden Globe for special effects would go to the team that airbrushed that poster. Girls, we know how old you are. I saw one of you in an episode of Bonanza.“
Whether you appreciate Gervais for his outspokenness or not best believe he will be bringing that same energy to Sunday night's ceremony.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter (via Fox News) Gervais explained his permanent position on why he never holds back with his jokes.
"I think offense is the collateral damage of free speech, and it's no reason not to have free speech," Gervais told the outlet. "That's what I'd say -- it's the lesser of two evils. Having free speech and some people getting upset by it is the lesser of two evils because not having free speech is horrendous."
He continued;
"People like the idea of freedom of speech until they hear something they don't like," he told THR. "So there's still a pressure, but that doesn't mean I'm going to water it down or back down and not say what I want. It's just another form of what we've been through many, many times -- it used to be called P.C.""It's a good thing to not be racist and sexist and homophobic. But it's not a good thing to not be allowed to make jokes about those things, because you can tell a joke about race without being racist," he added. "I'm happy to play by the rules. It's just that the 200 million people watching have different rules. That's the plight. When people say, 'He crossed the line,' I say, 'I didn't draw a line, you did.' It's relative. It's subjective."
Who knows what Gervais will say in this current political climate when the 77th annual Golden Globes premieres Sunday January 5 at 8 PM on NBC.
