Ricky Gervais Defends His Golden Globes Joke About Caitlyn Jenner

At Sunday’s award show, the host made a quip that many called “transphobic”

Ricky Gervais 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards Arrivals
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Host Ricky Gervais attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Ricky Gervais doesn’t think the joke he made at Caitlyn Jenner’s expense during Sunday’s Golden Globes show was over the line, and claims that not every joke about Jenner is “automatically transphobic.”

“Suggesting a joke about Caitlin [sic] Jenner is automatically transphobic is like suggesting a joke about Bill Cosby is automatically racist,” he tweeted Tuesday.

In his opening monologue at the 73rd annual Golden Globes, Gervais targeted Jenner after stating that he was “going to be nice tonight” and had changed, but “not as much as Bruce Jenner.”

“What a year she’s had,” Gervais said. “She became a role model for trans people everywhere, showing great bravery in breaking down barriers and destroying stereotypes. She didn’t do a lot for women drivers, but you can’t have everything, can you?”

The joke referenced a four-car crash that Jenner was involved in last February, which killed another motorist. The line was met with some awkward laughs and gasps at the awards show, but was met with outrage on Twitter.

“You have every right to be offended,” Gervais wrote in a separate tweet. “Just don’t cry when no one cares.”

“Hosting The Globes has made me want to do a new stand up show next year,” he added in another. “Now THAT’S when you’re allowed to be offended.”

 

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