Netflix
- Ricky Gervais’ new Netflix special SuperNature was released on Tuesday, May 24.
- The special is already at the center of controversy due to its jokes about trans people.
- The backlash is reminiscent of what happened to Dave Chappelle last fall.
While Ricky Gervais’ new Netflix comedy special SuperNature has only been on the streaming service for a few hours, it’s already been long enough that some people are taking issue with Gervais’ jokes about the LGBTQ+ community, particularly trans people.
Relatively early in his latest special, Gervais — who famously created the original U.K. version of The Office — begins his joke about the trans community.
Ricky Gervais facing backlash for jokes about trans community in new Netflix special SuperNature
“Oh, women! Not all women, I mean the old-fashioned ones. The old-fashioned women, the ones with wombs. Those f—ing dinosaurs. I love the new women. They’re great, aren’t they? The new ones we’ve been seeing lately. The ones with beards and c—s,” Gervais says.
“They’re as good as gold, I love them. And now the old-fashioned ones say, ‘Oh, they want to use our toilets.’ ‘Why shouldn’t they use your toilets?’ ‘For ladies!’ ‘They are ladies — look at their pronouns! What about this person isn’t a lady?’ ‘Well, his penis.’ ‘Her penis, you f—ing bigot!’ ‘What if he rapes me?’ ‘What if she rapes you, you f—ing TERF whore?’”
🤣🤣 All hell is about to break lose. pic.twitter.com/grozKb6Rip
— Aja the Empress ♀️🇬🇧🇯🇲 (@Aja02537920) May 24, 2022
TERF, which is a phrase that has been associated with Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling, stands for Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist and represents people who don’t believe that trans women are women.
At the end of SuperNature, Gervais clarified that he does claim to support the rights of trans people:
“Full disclosure: In real life of course I support trans rights,” Gervais says. “I support all human rights, and trans rights are human rights. Live your best life. Use your preferred pronouns. Be the gender that you feel you are. But meet me halfway, ladies. Lose the c–k. That’s all I’m saying.”
The backlash to Gervais’ special is similar to that of Dave Chappelle, who saw the release of his 2021 special The Closer result in people calling for Netflix to remove him and his work from the streaming service. Netflix ultimately stood by Chappelle and his right to “artistic expression.”
Responses to Ricky Gervais’ new Netflix special SuperNature
https://twitter.com/discount_Ripley/status/1529026025216266240
I've always thought Dave Chapelle's trans jokes were pretty mild and disappointingly safe, despite all the outrage over them. But Gervais really goes for it here. This is what we need to see. Awesome stuff. https://t.co/QU8Z6McZ5A
— The Honorable Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) May 24, 2022
https://twitter.com/FW10826/status/1529040837883183104
it's insane that Ricky Gervais' whole bit is screeching and cackling at marginalized groups being brutally murdered daily, before turning to the camera, making a sad face, and saying "some people put lip stick on bunnies 😥"
— Quinton Reviews – #1 GARFIELD FAN 🎬 (@Q_Review) May 24, 2022
https://twitter.com/EoinHiggins_/status/1528134323496538114
Never forget that Ricky Gervais blocked all the trans accounts before his special came out. Take that as you will.
— M 🐦 (@billiefridayxl) May 24, 2022
You know what would really piss Ricky Gervais off? If there was no backlash to his special. If nobody got mad at all. If it just went down like a cup of lukewarm water someone got from the bathroom. That would piss Ricky Gervais off the most.
— ian karmel (@IanKarmel) May 24, 2022
Ricky Gervais is just an incredibly lazy comedian who hasn't worked out that just because you're offensive it doesn't mean you're funny.
His fans now seem to consist of right wing twats who think cruelty is funny simply by virtue of it being cruel and "triggering the libs". https://t.co/KG2RdDkL2K— Queer Rage (@QueerRageNow) May 24, 2022
The Independent classes Ricky Gervais: SuperNature as transphobic and gives it a 2 star rating.
Which means it’s definitely worth a watch.
— Chris Rose (@ArchRose90) May 24, 2022
https://twitter.com/Esqueer_/status/1529070837692780544
I see Ricky Gervais is standing up for the IDGAF+ community.
— Progressive Misogyny (@JustMisogyny) May 24, 2022
ricky gervais' sucks not just cause his special is transphobic but also cause he's a coward who's riding a global wave of transphobia to beg real comedians for respect, which he will ultimately not get
— yedoye (@yedoye_) May 24, 2022