Latest news with #Gervais
UPI
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
Ricky Gervais gets star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
May 31 (UPI) -- Actor, comedian, filmmaker and legendary Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. "Lovely day. Got a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame, had lunch with some of my oldest friends, and just washed my shorts in the shower," Gervais posted Friday on X after the event, along with a photo of the aforementioned apparel drying in the sun on a hotel terrace. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos and writer-director-actor Christopher Guest were on hand at the dedication ceremony and paid tribute to the star and creator of The Office, Extras, Derek and After Life. "The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is honored to welcome comedian Ricky Gervais to the Hollywood Walk of Fame," Ana Martinez, Walk of Fame producer, said in a press release. "Finally, a star that will give snarky commentary every time someone walks by... I always knew we needed a comedian's touch on our famed sidewalk!" Gervais is scheduled to perform at the famed Hollywood Bowl on Saturday night.
Pink Villa
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Ricky Gervais Honored with Walk of Fame Star, Sparks Controversy with Sarcastic Speech
Comedian Ricky Gervais was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday. The 63-year-old British star of The Office posed proudly at the Los Angeles landmark. He was dressed casually in a black T-shirt, jeans, and sunglasses. During his acceptance speech, Gervais expressed surprise at receiving the honour and joked about being among the many famous names on the boulevard. However, his remarks took a controversial turn when he referenced stars like Michael Jackson, Bill Cosby, and Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle — all of whom have faced serious allegations in the past. 'Thank you so much for this honour. It's a genuine thrill to be part of such an exclusive club,' Gervais said, as reported by Variety. 'And just looking around earlier at all the other stars, absolute icons, you know? Michael Jackson, Bill Cosby, Fatty Arbuckle.' While only Cosby was convicted, and later had the conviction overturned, all three figures have been embroiled in legal controversies. Gervais's comments sparked concern over his decision to highlight these particular names during the celebratory moment. Known for his sharp humour and no-holds-barred style, Gervais opened his speech with typical sarcasm: 'Wow, this is a huge surprise. I never thought I'd win this today.' He added, jokingly, that he didn't dress up because he no longer had a suit that fit. Gervais also acknowledged his comedic style, saying his job is 'not being very good at taking things too seriously,' even as he attempted to strike a more serious tone. This isn't the first time Gervais has stirred controversy. His 2020 Golden Globes monologue was widely discussed for taking aim at Hollywood elites, 'woke' celebrities, and figures like Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew. Despite criticism, Gervais remained unapologetic. Following the Golden Globes backlash, he thanked fans for their support, stating, 'Makes jokes, not war.'
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Ricky Gervais breaks records, reflects on free speech and launches comedy contest
Ricky Gervais performs on stage during his Mortality tour, following his record-setting Armageddon show at the Hollywood Bowl Ricky Gervais brings his new stand-up show Mortality to the Hollywood Bowl, continuing his long-standing tradition of using dark comedy to explore difficult topics. Known for mixing satire, brutal honesty, and humor about aging and death, Gervais previously broke a Guinness World Record at the venue in 2023 with his Armageddon tour. The current show continues this trajectory, leaning into his signature comedic style that provokes thought and laughter in equal measure. The Mortality tour incorporates commentary on life's final chapter, framed in a comedic format designed to engage audiences intellectually and emotionally. Gervais describes his approach as a 'magic trick,' built on formulaic misdirection that allows controversial topics to be explored through humor. The tour highlights his continued appeal among audiences willing to engage with challenging material delivered through carefully crafted jokes. Also read: Peacock's The Office Follow-Up Series: What we know about cast, plot and production team Gervais was recently honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, cementing his place in entertainment history. The recognition follows a career that includes acclaimed TV shows, international stand-up tours, and high-profile awards hosting gigs. Gervais, known for criticizing celebrity culture while working within it, acknowledged the irony of the recognition. He reflected on how being immortalized in Hollywood contrasts with his own minimalist lifestyle and desire to return home early. The ceremony was scheduled for the day before his Hollywood Bowl appearance, allowing him to optimize his time in Los Angeles and return home promptly, which he described as a personal priority. In addition to his tour and recent accolades, Gervais is promoting the Spirit of Comedy competition, a UK-based contest designed to spotlight emerging stand-up comedians. Sponsored by Dutch Barn Vodka, a brand Gervais co-owns, the contest offers the winner a chance to open for him at London's OVO Arena Wembley. Also read: Was it all joke? How stand-up comedy helped reelect TrumpThe collaboration with Dutch Barn Vodka stems from Gervais's interest in the company's ethical practices, including sustainability, vegan production, and fair labor. He emphasized that the initiative aligns with his personal values and allows him to give back to the comedy community. Gervais noted the contest's potential to support new talent while offering creative fulfillment on his part. Gervais continues to advocate for creative freedom in comedy, arguing that offense is often misattributed due to misunderstandings about the intended target of jokes. He stated that comedians are increasingly scrutinized for addressing taboo topics, but that satire remains essential for exploring societal norms. He distinguishes his work from political rhetoric by emphasizing that comedians create fiction to provoke laughter, not literal statements meant to harm. Gervais reiterated that audience members can choose to disengage rather than censor performers, framing comedy as an intellectual pursuit governed by structure and timing rather than ideology in an interview with The Los Angeles Times. Also read: Trump skips White House Correspondents' Dinner again; Watch journalist & celebs take over red carpet Gervais described the comedy process as mathematical, where structure and timing produce a reaction. He explained that the ability to provoke laughter, regardless of personal agreement with the punchline, is what defines a joke's success. For him, the only censorship should be personal choice, not imposed regulation.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ricky Gervais breaks records, reflects on free speech and launches comedy contest
Ricky Gervais returns to Hollywood Bowl with new tour Mortality Ricky Gervais brings his new stand-up show Mortality to the Hollywood Bowl, continuing his long-standing tradition of using dark comedy to explore difficult topics. Known for mixing satire, brutal honesty, and humor about aging and death, Gervais previously broke a Guinness World Record at the venue in 2023 with his Armageddon tour. The current show continues this trajectory, leaning into his signature comedic style that provokes thought and laughter in equal measure. The Mortality tour incorporates commentary on life's final chapter, framed in a comedic format designed to engage audiences intellectually and emotionally. Gervais describes his approach as a 'magic trick,' built on formulaic misdirection that allows controversial topics to be explored through humor. The tour highlights his continued appeal among audiences willing to engage with challenging material delivered through carefully crafted jokes. Also read: Peacock's The Office Follow-Up Series: What we know about cast, plot and production team Comedian receives Hollywood Walk of Fame star Gervais was recently honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, cementing his place in entertainment history. The recognition follows a career that includes acclaimed TV shows, international stand-up tours, and high-profile awards hosting gigs. Gervais, known for criticizing celebrity culture while working within it, acknowledged the irony of the recognition. He reflected on how being immortalized in Hollywood contrasts with his own minimalist lifestyle and desire to return home early. The ceremony was scheduled for the day before his Hollywood Bowl appearance, allowing him to optimize his time in Los Angeles and return home promptly, which he described as a personal priority. Spirit of Comedy contest promotes emerging talent In addition to his tour and recent accolades, Gervais is promoting the Spirit of Comedy competition, a UK-based contest designed to spotlight emerging stand-up comedians. Sponsored by Dutch Barn Vodka, a brand Gervais co-owns, the contest offers the winner a chance to open for him at London's OVO Arena Wembley. Live Events Also read: Was it all joke? How stand-up comedy helped reelect Trump The collaboration with Dutch Barn Vodka stems from Gervais's interest in the company's ethical practices, including sustainability, vegan production, and fair labor. He emphasized that the initiative aligns with his personal values and allows him to give back to the comedy community. Gervais noted the contest's potential to support new talent while offering creative fulfillment on his part. Gervais defends free speech in comedy Gervais continues to advocate for creative freedom in comedy, arguing that offense is often misattributed due to misunderstandings about the intended target of jokes. He stated that comedians are increasingly scrutinized for addressing taboo topics, but that satire remains essential for exploring societal norms. He distinguishes his work from political rhetoric by emphasizing that comedians create fiction to provoke laughter, not literal statements meant to harm. Gervais reiterated that audience members can choose to disengage rather than censor performers, framing comedy as an intellectual pursuit governed by structure and timing rather than ideology in an interview with The Los Angeles Times. Also read: Trump skips White House Correspondents' Dinner again; Watch journalist & celebs take over red carpet Gervais described the comedy process as mathematical, where structure and timing produce a reaction. He explained that the ability to provoke laughter, regardless of personal agreement with the punchline, is what defines a joke's success. For him, the only censorship should be personal choice, not imposed regulation.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Comedian Ricky Gervais says ‘free speech' essential for comedy, admits any joke will offend someone
British stand-up comedian and sitcom star Ricky Gervais said comics should not obsess over potentially offending audiences, because any joke will offend somebody somewhere. In a new interview with the Los Angeles Times, the creator and star of the British version of "The Office" TV series, described how he employs offensive jokes and taboo subjects for his audiences and stressed the importance of free speech for comedy. "But you have to have free speech, and there's nothing you could say that someone somewhere won't be offended by. It's impossible so you shouldn't even try," Gervais told the outlet. Ricky Gervais Says He Had A 'Blast' At The Golden Globes: 'Make Jokes, Not War' "I don't go out there and try to ruin the audience's evening. I go out there, and I make a joke, and it's crafted," he said. "We're human though, and we take things personally, but you shouldn't, because I think comedy is best as an intellectual pursuit." Despite Gervais' reputation for ruffling feathers, he says using offensive jokes is more about guiding an audience through a scary or uncomfortable scenario so they can come to a new perspective about it. Read On The Fox News App "We're human, so we react to buzzwords, and we're cautious of taboo subjects. That's why they're still taboo, because we're cautious of them. I do that on purpose as well, particularly with my stand-up where I talk about contentious issues and taboo subjects, because I do want to take the audience to a place they haven't been before," he said. Andrew Schulz Says 'Country Has Spoken Loud And Clear' On Wokeness After 'Unanimous' Trump Win On The Issue He continued, "I do want them to reflect on it, worry about it, think about it and then, I've got to misdirect them. It's like I take them by the hand through a scary forest, but it's okay because they always laugh." Gervais even suggested that comics could go too far with jokes. "If I were going out there and saying things that were really offensive, and no one was laughing, well, that would be odd," he said, adding that's the difference between a comedian like him and politicians. "Politicians say awful things, and they mean it, and no one laughs. Comedians say things they don't mean, everyone laughs, and they get the same treatment." The comedian made waves in 2020 for his Golden Globes speech that featured a no-holds-barred assault on many of the Hollywood elites present in the audience. In one of the infamous jokes, he grilled alleged Hollywood connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Gervais declared that Epstein didn't kill himself, prompting groans from the crowd. "Shut up, I know he's your friend, but I don't care," he quipped. Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture In another, he told the audience, "You're in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world. Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg." Gervais has taken a stance against "fragile" and "easily offended" people in recent years. In response to online debate over whether language in Roald Dahl's beloved children's books should be updated to be more politically correct in 2023, the comic posted a serious picture of himself, writing, "This is me pondering whether they'll change any of the words I've used in my work after I'm dead, to spare those who are fragile and easily offended." He then listed off several of the profane words that have marked his comic career: "Words like 'fat' and 'ugly'. And 'c---' and 'f---'. And 'fat, ugly, greedy, pathetic little stupid f------ c---'. Stuff like that."Original article source: Comedian Ricky Gervais says 'free speech' essential for comedy, admits any joke will offend someone
