Ricky Gervais’ anti-trans jokes in Netflix special spark backlash

With just a week to go before Pride Month begins, Netflix is ​​once again in hot water over jokes mocking trans people.

Ricky Gervais released his Netflix comedy special SuperNature on May 24, and within the first five minutes, Gervais targeted trans women.

“Oh, women!” Gervais says. “Not all women, I mean the old-fashioned ones. The old-fashioned women with wombs. Those damn dinosaurs. I love the new women. You are great, aren’t you? The new ones we’ve seen lately. The ones with beards and tails. They are as good as gold, I love them. And now the old-fashioned are saying, ‘Oh, they want to use our toilets.’ “Why shouldn’t you use your toilets?” ‘For ladies!’ “They are ladies – look at their pronouns! What about that person who isn’t a lady?’ “Well, his penis.” ‘Your penis, you bloody fanatic!’ ‘What if he rapes me?’ ‘What if she rapes you, you fucking TERF whore?’”

It should be noted that TERF stands for Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist, and the term is used to describe feminists who advocacy separate trans women’s rights from women’s rights.

Gervais went on to revisit Kevin Hart’s 2018 scandal as past homophobic tweets were exposed. Hart has stepped down from hosting the Academy Awards following the media storm.

“You can’t predict what’s going to be offensive in the future,” says Gervais. “You don’t know who will be the dominant mob. Worst thing you can say today is being canceled on twitter, death threats, worst thing you can say today is ‘women don’t have penises’ right? Nobody saw this coming. You won’t find a 10 year old tweet saying “women don’t have penises”. You know why? We didn’t think we fucking had to!”

At the end of the special, Gervais issued a disclaimer that his comments on the trans community had only shock value: “Full disclosure: In real life, of course, I support trans rights,” Gervais explained. “I support all human rights, and trans rights are human rights. live your best life Use your favorite pronouns. Be the gender you feel for.”

Gervais then adds: “But meet me halfway, ladies. lose the tail That’s all I’m saying.”

Fans have since shared backlash on social media, and viewers have reinforced it cancel their Netflix membership after the special aired with the hashtag #TransRightsAreHumanRights.

“Ricky Gervais has a new standup show on Netflix today,” a trans woman tweeted. “5 minutes later he’s joking about trans women attacking and raping people in public restrooms. To him, we only exist as a punch line, as a threat, as something less human.”

Other wrote“If you’re a comedian and you support trans people, it’s your responsibility to speak out against Dave Chapelle and the new Ricky Gervais special. At this point, one cannot call oneself an ally unless one publicly opposes it. It’s the bare minimum.”

In October 2021, Netflix viewers protested comedian Dave Chapelle’s standup special “The Closer” after leaked communications from Netflix employees revealed that the streamer was suspending trans employees who criticized the release of Chapelle’s standup.

Ricky Gervais released a new comedy special on Tuesday.

It’s said Netflix sat on it for months because it’s so virulently transphobic – worse than Chappelle – but released it anyway, fearing right-wing backlash.

— ℮oin Higgins (@EoinHiggins_) May 21, 2022

If you’re a comedian and support trans people, it’s your responsibility to speak out against Dave Chapelle and the new Ricky Gervais special. At this point, one cannot call oneself an ally unless one publicly takes a stand against it. it is the bare minimum.

— martha (@moominmarxist) May 24, 2022

In honor of Ricky Gervais and his 2-4-1 rant about trans people and the abandonment culture, I’m actually canceling. Thanks very much @Netflix #TransRightsAreHumanRights pic.twitter.com/fuW0d169rg

— Big Red (@bigredgaymer) May 24, 2022

Ricky Gervais has a new stand-up show on Netflix today.

5 minutes later he is joking about trans women attacking and raping people in public toilets. For him we exist only as a punchline, as a threat, as something less human.

— Esme (@discount_Ripley) May 24, 2022

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