Latest news with #MichaelJackson
Telegraph
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Ricky Gervais makes Hollywood sex abuse joke in Walk of Fame speech
Ricky Gervais has made a controversial joke about sex abuse in showbusiness after accepting a Hollywood Walk of Fame award. The 63-year-old actor and comedian posed with his star at the Los Angeles landmark on Friday. He then joked how he was grateful to join the 'exclusive club', naming among its members the pop star Michael Jackson, the comedian Bill Cosby and the silent film actor Roscoe 'Fatty'Arbuckle. All three went on trial for alleged sex crimes. Gervais said: 'Thank you so much for this honour. It's a genuine thrill to be part of such an exclusive club. 'And just looking around earlier at all the other stars, absolute icons, you know? Michael Jackson, Bill Cosby, Fatty Arbuckle.' Jackson, who died in 2009 aged 50, was accused of sexually abusing children at his Neverland ranch, but was acquitted. Arbuckle was taken to court three times in the 1920s for the rape and manslaughter of the actress Virginia Rappe. He was also acquitted and received a written apology from the third jury. He died in 1933. Cosby, 87, was convicted of sexual assault in 2018 and spent just under three years in prison. He maintains his innocence, and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court later overturned his conviction. On Friday, a casually dressed Gervais also addressed his look, saying: 'I should firstly apologise for how I'm dressed. This isn't me trying to be cool or disrespectful to the establishment. This is me not having a suit that fits any more. 'I tried on about five before I left England and the jackets weren't too bad, but the trousers were just depressing. Even my shirts were too tight. I looked disgusting. When a butcher ties up those joints of pork – it was like that.' The multi-award-winning entertainer being awarded a star on Hollywood Boulevard as 'pretty crazy', adding: 'And I'm from England, so I have a strange mix of nothing good ever happens, and if it does I don't deserve it or it can't be as good as I thought it was. 'I'd love to claim that it was due to my unrivalled genius, but it truth be told, it's a cocktail of luck, persistence, and a little bit of pushing against the tide. 'You've got to polarise. You need to know that if you're doing anything of any worth, as many people hate you as love you. But the ones that hate you, they shouldn't affect you. The ones that love you, they buy your house. So I'd like to thank them. 'And we've had a few weird years of cancel culture, people telling you what you can and can't laugh at or talk about, but we pushed back and we won until the next time.' Gervais previously attracted controversy over comments made during a speech at the Golden Globes in 2020. In an eight-minute monologue, he criticised various aspects of Hollywood, bringing in issues of racism and the Epstein scandal. He was accused of being 'cruel' and 'unkind' the morning after the awards. But hitting back on social media, he wrote: 'Thank you for all your amazing comments about my Golden Globes monologue. Best reaction ever, that means a lot to me.'
Pink Villa
12 hours 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.'
Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ricky Gervais gives hilarious risque speech as he receives star on Hollywood Walk Of Fame
Ricky Gervais received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday and while accepting the honor, he risked getting canceled with an edgy speech. The 63-year-old comedian stirred up controversy again as he joked about sexual assault accusations, and said he was grateful to join stars including Michael Jackson, Bill Cosby, and Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle. He said: 'Thank you so much for this honor. It's a genuine thrill to be part of such an exclusive club. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO 'And just looking around earlier at all the other stars, absolute icons, you know?' Jackson, Cosby, and Arbuckle all went to trial for their alleged crimes but only Cosby was convicted, as Jackson and Arbuckle were acquitted. He began: 'Wow, this is a huge surprise. I never thought I'd win this today.' As he unfolded a piece of paper, he added: 'I haven't even prepared a speech or anything. 'I should firstly apologize for how I'm dressed. This isn't me trying to be cool or disrespectful to the establishment. This is me not having a suit that fits anymore,' he joked in his speech. He later joked about how his job is to be 'not very good at taking things too seriously' and delivered his controversial punchline at a moment when he said he was 'going to try and be serious.' Gervais is no stranger to making controversial, profanity-laden jokes and often faces backlash for his 'offensive' comedy. The actor, who was behind British TV sitcoms like The Office and Extras, previously stirred controversy when he hosted the Golden Globe Awards from 2010 through 2012, then again in 2016 and 2020. Career: He later joked about how his job is to be 'not very good at taking things too seriously' Although he did not return for this year's ceremony, he did share some of the shocking jokes he would have told if the 82nd Golden Globes was hosted by him instead of fellow comedian Nikki Glaser. For her first time Golden Globes hosting gig, Glaser even made a joke about Gervais during her monologue when she said she was 'not gonna go so hard that anyone's gonna be offended.' Meanwhile, Gervais had shared a video of some of his jokes ahead of the award ceremony as he said, 'It's been a pretty good year for material.' He roasted Sean 'Diddy' Combs, joked about Justin Timberlake's DWI arrest and also showed off more of his caustic wit as he wisecracked about Hollywood's 'pedo ring' and The Vatican. His hosting gigs have always drawn mixed reactions as some of his wildest Golden Globe jokes included roasting Leonardo DiCaprio for the age gap between him and the women he dates as well as offending Caitlyn Jenner by using her deadname. He also joked about Bird Box and working for Harvey Weinstein as well as the litany of celebrities who have undergone plastic surgery transformations.
The Independent
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Watch: Ricky Gervais rails against cancel culture as he's honoured with a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Comedian Ricky Gervais has been honoured with a star on Hollywood's iconic Walk of Fame. While the star of The Office admitted he was 'humbled' to receive the tribute on Friday (30 May), he couldn't resist poking fun at the event in a broadside against cancel culture. 'Thank you so much for this honor. It's a genuine thrill to be part of such an exclusive club,' said Gervais. 'And just looking around earlier at all the other stars, absolute icons, you know, Michael Jackson, Bill Cosby, Fatty Arbuckle. 'And we've had a few weird years of cancel culture - people telling you what you can and can't laugh at or talk about, but we pushed back and we won until the next time.'
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Moonwalk Movie Review: A Heartfelt Tribute to Dance, Friendship, and Michael Jackson
Story: Set in the 1980s in Thiruvananthapuram, the film chronicles the life of a group of youngsters learning break dance Review: Moonwalk is a film that stands out with its theme, performances and simplicity. It can even be called a slice-of-life film, focusing primarily on how dance transforms the lives of a few young men and their families. It also serves as a soulful tribute to Michael Jackson, the entertainer. A fresh cast adds to the experience and convinces the audience that they are truly witnessing a group of youngsters trying to learn breakdance—something they were inspired to pursue after watching a performance in their locality, a form of dance new and never seen before. The group consists of young men from all walks of life, representing different religions, castes, and financial backgrounds. Debutant director Vinod AK, who also co-wrote the film, clearly knew what needed to be on screen, without overdoing anything—be it the family moments, nostalgic elements, or the dancing (which, honestly, no one would have minded seeing more of). The novelty of breakdance as an art form at that time is effectively conveyed throughout the story. The film lingers on the lives of each of these aspiring dancers, and the audience gets to witness many raw, authentic moments within ordinary families. There is no whitewashing. Class differences are evident, even within this friend group that is solely focused on dance and romantic pursuits. We also see how each of these men makes personal style statements, finding ways to dress as they prefer within their means. The film captures how society views people who dress or style themselves differently from what is considered 'normal'—including the police, who harass them under the assumption that they are lawless. All of this is shown with nuance. The film features several key locations and important colleges in Thiruvananthapuram. Since it's set in an earlier time, the set design and costumes are convincingly done and even evoke nostalgia. While not all character arcs receive closure, Sura's arc does, and it offers a very satisfying conclusion—especially because his struggles will resonate with many, even years later. Though it's not a dance film through and through, it has enough merit to be considered one. The dance moves don't always pack the punch one might expect, but when they finally take the stage in the latter part of the film, the performances are deeply satisfying. Those scenes are purely about dance, and dance alone. One of the more off-putting aspects, however, is how often the film cuts to the audience during the dance competition—especially to a frankly irrelevant crowd. Each of the young actors—Anunath, Sujith Prabhakar, Rishi Kainikkara, Siddharth Babu, Manoj Moses R, Sibi Kuttappan, Prem Shankar S, and Appu Ashari—delivers a convincing performance. Prashant Pillai's music further elevates the film. One gripe with the film is how the local slang was overdone. Some dialogues, particularly during interactions among friends, felt repetitive and served little purpose. People in Trivandrum definitely don't use "Oo" and "Thanne" so frequently in every conversation.
