GettyRicky Gervais isn’t virginal when it comes to controversy but this is certainly a new one.
This Tuesday, as part of his Humanity tour, the Extra’s star and writer, did a bout of stand-up in Belfast where he made, as you’d expect, more than a handful of risque jokes.
One of the jokes in particular was about a ‘dead baby’ where he reportedly said, ‘aww for fucks sake, it’s dead’, according to the NME.
'Aww for fucks sake it's dead'…..brutal but hilarious. Enjoyed @rickygervais at Waterfront Hall tonight.
— Phillip McCreight (@redshovel) March 29, 2017
In the audience of the show were a grieving couple who sadly lost their new-born son last July and claim that attending Gervais’ show was their first night-out since the loss.
The couple, Suzi and Ryan Gourley, walked out of the gig and claimed that they ‘wouldn’t have expected’ such a joke in ‘a million years from anybody’.
They continued, saying:
I know people take things differently and I know our emotions are raw, but why joke about a baby being dead? It’s just wrong. Some people might read this and think we’re over sensitive and maybe we are – but it’s just not funny.
GettyThe loss of a loved one, especially when it’s a child, must lead to emotional pain which is simply unfathomable to the likes of me and you but was Gervais in the wrong for making the joke?
Of course it’s a risky comment but isn’t that what comedy is all about – and at the end of the day Gervais isn’t your typical safe for work comic like Michael Mcintyre or Jerry fucking Seinfeld.
In the aftermath of the controversial shitstorm, Gervais took to Twitter to defend his comments claiming it’s ridiculous to think that ‘all jokes should be banned in case anyone is offended’.
His full response can be seen below:
"Is there any subject you shouldn't joke about?" is no less ridiculous a question than "Is there any subject you shouldn't talk about?"
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) March 30, 2017
Offence often occurs when people mistake the subject of a joke with the actual target. They're not always the same.
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) March 30, 2017
Jokes about "bad things" don't have to necessarily be pro those bad things. Surely, a joke that's anti bad things is a good thing, no?
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) March 30, 2017
Basically, offence is about feelings, and feelings are personal. People simply don't like being reminded of bad things.
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) March 30, 2017
I wish I had a pound for every time I offended someone. Wait, I do.
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) March 30, 2017
Me: Why did the chicken cross the road?
*Kid starts crying
Me: What's wrong?
Kid: My chicken got run over yesterday.
Me: Sorry kid.
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) March 30, 2017
https://twitter.com/rickygervais/status/847459855736688640
The Belfast venue, the Waterfront Hall added:
Unfortunately we have no control at all over the material artists choose to use on stage, but we do of course appreciate this particular theme will have caused distress.
Personally – though the joke must’ve come as a thorn in the side of the grieving couple I don’t think it’s fair to call Gervais out for his words.
It’s his job to make people laugh, and generally, people that laugh at his sort of material have a taste for the controversial. I don’t blame him one bit.
