#54

But as @elthamsmateowen says above, it’s Gervais who’s got the bigger audience here (than Belfast Live or the Neonatal Society or whatever). If he’d just acted like a human and gave them a call or something then that would have probably been like that. Instead he decided to act like he was the person more greatly offended.

But as you say above, it’s his living, isn’t it. And people lap it up. Being a fucking edgelord for a living. Gervais, Legs-it… etc.

1 Like
#56

Quite. He’s got every right to say what he wants, they’ve got every right to complain. He probably shouldn’t have said what he did, and they probably shouldn’t have been there in the first place. Everyone’s fucked up, nothing bad has actually happened, in the scheme of things.

He’s just courting more press to make sure his next tour sells out before it goes on sale, too.

#57

Yeah, I suspect he’s made a big deal out of it for a reason.

Before this thread, I didn’t even know he was touring.

1 Like
#58

hmm

well actually, this shows a huge lack of empathy
it’s probably not obvious unless you’ve been in that situation but every single parent’s first response on losing their child was that it WAS their own fault. That they load themselves with guilt at being responsible for their child’s death is standard. That the first stage of post-trauma therapy in these situations is getting rid of that guilt

so I can understand the response both of the parents and of Gervais as he probably is blind to the fact that he touched such a raw nerve

1 Like
#59

Who?!

4 Likes
#60

That guy who does the dance, not Letterman guy, the other one.

3 Likes
#61

Gervais is such such a prick nowadays

#62

Someone deleted my post. What about MY free speech?!

[inserts xkcd comic]

#63

He’s just a bit of a tit really isn’t he? The actual output of his comedy since extras has turned into everything he said he once hated.

Despite this I can still enjoy the office knowing all this bollocks he talks is just an act really. His laugh in the outtakes alone will always get me

Shame he is a Knob but was always gonna be that way

#64

While he’s not entirely off base in suggesting that yes ultimately freedom of speech is going to result in some people being offended by what other’s say it seems relatively inconsequential as there’s no real consequence to a couple complaining about a joke he made, they’re just enacting their own freedom of speech.

Regarding the second point as mentioned there was that Dave Chapelle comedy special, I suppose the difference with Chapelle is rather than turning this into a “people are too easily offended these days” he just seems to acknowledge that yes in comedy people can potentially find some of the things he says offensive.

#65

Can’t imagine not going to see a good comedian instead and saving about 40 quid.

#66

didn’t realise this happened at the belfast gig. my workmate was at that, didn’t mention any walkout so mustn’t have been obvious.

that is all

#67
  1. He’s free to make the joke
  2. People are free to criticize him, so he shouldn’t be crying about it
  3. He’s become a total parody of himself and everything he used to mock
#68
  1. He’s free to make the joke
  2. People are free to criticize him, so he shouldn’t be crying about it
  3. He’s become a total parody of himself and everything he used to mock

I’ve been listening to the old xfm shows recently with Gervais, Merchant and Pilkington. Actually amazing that some of that stuff went out on commercial radio in the middle of the day on a Saturday. Gervais just about gets away with the offensive stuff behind the guise of irony and satire - but it made me realize how much of a twat Steve Merchant is (literally making gay jokes etc without a hint of irony)

#69

You are right. Am I allowed to think that Ricky Gervais is a total cunt for different reasons, though?

#70

No.

#71

Not sure that’s fair, I doubt Merchant would make those jokes now.

#72

Thought censorship!

#73

Likewise. I think this explains it all really.

#74

Perhaps it was his age (was he mid 20s?) and a sign of the times, i dunno.