Joe Lycett has slammed Ricky Gervais for his ‘comedically weak’ comments and ‘attacking’ the transgender community.
Gervais, 62, is no new to causing controversy, with his current Netflix film, Armageddon, being chastised for his use of language and words, such as calling terminally sick youngsters ‘baldies’ and stating, ‘Why didn’t you wish to get better? What? You f***ing re****ed as well?
In his last show, Supernature, Gervais took aim at the trans community and attempted to make humorous jokes about ‘old-fashioned ladies’ being ‘the ones with wombs’ as well as gags about how he’s transitioning to become ‘Vicky Gervais’.
Comedian Joe has now criticised his bad sense of comedy, claiming that ‘attacking minorities’ is a waste of his abilities.
When talking about being a ‘woke’ comedian, Joe, who is now highlighting the country’s huge poo problem after his best stunt yet and has previously trolled GB News, Liz Truss and Suella Braverman, said: ‘Somebody literally said to me a few months ago, “Oh it must be so hard being a comedian, don’t you miss being racist and homophobic,” those were their actual words.
‘And I was like, funnily enough, I don’t miss that really. I think we’ve just got more interesting as an industry and doing more interesting things.’
Speaking on The News Agents podcast, he went on: ‘The key thing is, it’s not for everyone and if you don’t think it’s funny or don’t think it’s interesting, don’t watch it, that’s fine. But there is an audience for it.’
He continued: ‘I would never say that Gervais shouldn’t do what he does, he can say whatever he wants, we live in a free society.
‘What I think is perhaps disappointing about Gervais and the people like him that are doing this sort of “I’ll just say how it is,” and the last show he did, the real tragedy for me was that it was comedically weak.’
‘If you removed the Gervaisness of it, and you gave it to a new stand-up, they’d struggle in a club with the material he had,’ Joe added, saying ‘anyone who gets a bit of telly can get a bit complacent, myself included.’
He went on: ‘The thing about Gervais and people like him, who are doing material which is attacking trans people and wokeness, however they see it, is that they are very skilled.
‘Gervais has done amazing, amazing, work, and what a waste of that skill to attack minorities. That’s how I feel about it.
‘I’m not going to say he shouldn’t do it, do whatever he wants, I don’t want to get involved in his creative process, but I would prefer to see him use that skill and that wit to attack people who possibly need to be attacked more than the trans community.’
James Acaster’s 2019 stand-up performance, Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999, resurfaced last year after outrage to Armageddon revealed, resulting in thousands joining a petition to remove one of his jokes.
Warning: This clip contains adult language that some viewers may find offensive.
Joe’s comments echo those of Off Menu podcast host James, who said: ‘Most edgy comics look like me, race and gender-wise, they say whatever they like. Edgy comedians, no one tells them what they can and can’t say.
‘They walk straight on stage, top of their specials sometimes, do 10 solid minutes of slagging off transgender people. Straight out the gate, just making fun of transgender people.
‘If people on the internet get upset about it, the comedian’s always like, “Bad luck! That’s my job. I’m a stand-up comedian, I’m meant to challenge people. If you don’t like being challenged, don’t watch my shows. What’s the matter guys, too challenging for you?’”‘
Repeating the sentiments over a few times, James continued: ‘Oh yeah, because you know who’s long been overdue a challenge? The trans community!
‘Oh, they’ve had their guard down for too long, if you ask me. They’ll be checking their privilege on the way home now thanks to you, you brave little cis boy!’
Saying he ‘used to name one of the comedians’ who that routine was about, James revealed it would then ‘get awkward in the room’.
He then said: ‘Apparently, it’s 2019, most people are still more than happy to laugh at transgender people, not happy to laugh at Ricky Gervais yet, I’ve discovered. That’s the line.’
Source My Celebrity Life.
