Comedian Ricky Gervais has sparked fresh debate by stating that working-class people have become the only group it is socially acceptable for comedians to mock without facing significant backlash.
Reflections on Comedy and Class
The creator of The Office made these comments during a forthcoming interview for BBC Radio 4's This Cultural Life. Gervais, who was raised by working-class parents in Reading, argued that public understanding of other power dynamics has shifted.
"People understand most power struggles," he said. "They understand why racism, homophobia and misogyny are wrong, but they are very disparaging about the working classes." He described it as "the one thing that it seems to be fine to take the mickey out of with no blowback at all."
Looking Back and Moving Forward
Gervais revealed that his own approach has changed with the times. He admitted he would now avoid making jokes at the expense of disadvantaged people, though he expressed no regret for his past material.
"You are a product of your time and you do make things for people of your time," he reflected. "I'd put trigger warnings on things, but I wouldn't go back and change something." When asked if he had regrets, he stated, "No. Would I do things differently now? Probably."
This reflection comes as he prepares for the release of his new Netflix stand-up special, Mortality, which arrives on the platform on Tuesday 30 December.
Navigating Controversy and 'Cancel Culture'
The new special follows his 2022 Netflix show SuperNature, which drew fierce criticism for jokes about transgender people. LGBTQ+ advocacy group GLAAD condemned that material as "dangerous, anti-trans rants masquerading as jokes."
Gervais has consistently defended his right to tackle taboo subjects, arguing that comedy's purpose is to make audiences momentarily uncomfortable. "I want to take the audience to a place it hasn't been before, even for a split second," he explained on The One Show.
He believes much offence stems from misunderstanding a joke's target. "Most offence comes from when people mistake the subject of a joke with the actual target," he said.
In May 2025, while receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Gervais declared a victory over so-called cancel culture. "We've had a few weird years of cancel culture... but we pushed back and we won until the next time," he told the Los Angeles crowd.
