Ricky Gervais’ new Netflix SuperNature special caused predictable outrage over comic book jokes aimed at transgender people, but now a clip from the funny British James Acaster has begun to be a trend on social media, where “comics avant-garde “like Gervais are mocked by punches. for vulnerable groups.
The clip, taken from Acaster’s special Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999 from 2019, sees the usual-style comic satirize “vain” performers like Gervais, whom he names directly. “They say whatever they want, nervous comedians. Nobody tells them what they can and can’t say. They walk straight to the stage, sometimes at the top of their specials, and they do a solid 10 minutes just to eliminate transgender people.” , says Acaster.
Just minutes from SuperNature, which debuted on Tuesday, Gervais’ initial jokes include one about the fluid comic book genre Eddie Izzard and trans women, which he describes as “new women” with “beards and cocks.” opening also includes references to pronouns., women’s baths and TERF.)
Acaster continues the Cold Lasagne clip: “People on the Internet are angry about this … the comedian always says,” Bad luck, this is my job, I’m a stand-up comedian, I’m there to challenge the people. If you don’t like being challenged, don’t look at my show. What’s wrong with you guys, too challenging for you? “
He adds: “Yes, because you know who has been asked for a challenge for a long time? The trans community. They’ve been on low guard for too long, if you ask me. Everyone will check their privilege on the way home, thanks to you, brave child cis.
Later in the clip, Acaster specifically calls Gervais, saying, “I used to call one of the comics he was dealing with, in that routine, but he always became very uncomfortable in the room because apparently in 2019 most people are even more “Happy to do that. Laugh at the trans people, but still don’t feel comfortable laughing at Ricky Gervais. That’s the line.”
Speaking to the British newspaper Metro, Acaster explained why he was targeting comics like Gervais, which he felt were hitting. “It was important for me to do that because, first of all, it started, like a lot of comedy routines do, if you see something that’s ridiculous or silly, then you want to make a joke out of it and I think the attitude “Comics that say they’re challenging people with their comedy and then hitting it off are totally absurd because that’s not how it works challenging people,” he said.
Gervais’ response to SuperNature follows a similar reaction against Dave Chappelle’s 2021 Netflix special, The Closer, which featured transphobic material. The Chappelle special was so controversial that it sparked protests and a march by Netflix trans employees and allies.