Part of the UK’s cultural furniture for decades, After Life star Gervais has gone global since joining the Netflix comedy family. But just how upstanding an ally is this stand-up? Erm, you might want to sit down for this one…
January 2011
While hosting the Golden Globes, Gervais mocks Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor’s gay-themed film, I Love You Phillip Morris, which he says features “two heterosexual actors pretending to be gay, so the complete opposite of some famous Scientologists then.” We’re here for reads of straight actors playing gay, and of the Church of Scientology. But this is just clumsy. And mocking the closeted? Never funny.
March 2014
Following the introduction of marriage equality in the UK, Gervais tweets: “Same-sex marriage isn’t just a victory for gay people. It’s a victory for all of us. ANYTHING that promotes equality, promotes progress.” Cute.
January 2016
While again hosting the Golden Globes, Gervais deadnames Caitlyn Jenner, who had publicly transitioned the year before. “What a year she’s had!” Gervais said. “She became a role model for trans people everywhere, showing great bravery in breaking down barriers and destroying stereotypes. She didn’t do a lot for women drivers. But you can’t have everything, can ya? Not at the same time.” (Jenner was involved in a car accident the previous February that left one woman dead. No charges were imposed against Jenner.)
January 2020
Four years later, Gervais defends his old joke about Jenner, telling The Hollywood Reporter: “I was very careful that the joke was about her being a bad driver. The joke was about stereotypes. I started off being correctly inclusive, saying she’s brave, breaking down barriers. And then I [said] she didn’t do a lot for women drivers.”
May 2022
Four minutes into his Netflix comedy special SuperNature, Gervais ‘jokes’: “Oh, women!
