Ricky Gervais's absence from the 2026 Golden Globes ceremony provided a perfect opening for fellow comedian Wanda Sykes to deliver a pointed critique of his controversial brand of humour, particularly his jokes about the transgender community.
Award Acceptance Becomes a Platform for Critique
Despite threatening last year to hold nothing back if he hosted again, Gervais was neither the presenter nor an attendee at this year's event. The hosting role instead fell to American comic Nikki Glaser. However, Gervais was named winner for best stand-up comedy performance on TV.
The award was presented by actress and comedian Wanda Sykes, who accepted the trophy on Gervais's behalf. Seizing the moment, Sykes began by stating, 'Shoutout to the Golden Globes for having me. You know there's some people p**sed off that a queer Black woman is up here doing the job of two mediocre white guys.'
She then turned her attention directly to the absent winner, quipping: 'I love you for not being here. If you win, I get to accept the award on your behalf, and you're going to thank God and the trans community.' The remark was a clear reference to the longstanding criticism Gervais has faced for material deemed transphobic.
A History of Controversial Material
Sykes's jab follows years of backlash against Gervais's comedy routines. A significant flashpoint occurred in 2016 when he hosted the Globes and was accused of making transphobic jokes about Caitlyn Jenner, including deadnaming her. He later defended the act, claiming it was not a joke about her being trans.
Subsequent specials have perpetuated the controversy. In his Netflix show 'Humanity', he reportedly deadnamed Jenner 15 times and compared gender self-identification to wanting to be a 'chimp'. Later, in his 2022 special 'SuperNature', Gervais stated, 'I love the new women... The ones with beards and cocks,' before adding he supports trans rights but quipping, 'But meet me halfway, ladies. Lose the cock.'
Critics argue such lines reinforce harmful stereotypes, including the transphobic talking point about trans women being a threat in bathrooms. In 2023, over 12,000 people signed a petition urging Netflix to drop his special 'Armageddon' after a teaser featured jokes about terminally ill children and use of the R-slur.
Gervais's Defence: 'Just Jokes'
Gervais has repeatedly defended his material as 'just jokes'. In a recent interview with BBC's This Cultural Life, he asserted his right to discuss contentious topics. 'I have a right to talk about those things,' he said. 'And there are jokes I certainly stand by. I can't look back and say, "Oh, sorry about that, I said that when I was only 50."'
He offered a characteristically provocative rationale for his evolving style: 'As you do get more progressive, maybe, and milder and change, what usually happens is, the things you used to do look worse. What I do is I try and get more offensive, so when I look back, I go "aw wasn't I kind when I was 45".' He then clarified that this statement itself was also a joke.
The exchange at the Golden Globes underscores the ongoing cultural tension between comedians pushing boundaries and communities calling for greater sensitivity, ensuring that Gervais's brand of 'anti-woke' comedy remains a potent topic of debate.
