Well, here we go again.
Netflix decided to give Dave Chappelle a break this week by giving trans people a different aggressive funnyman to endure (though Chappelle is doing his best to keep focus). Ricky Gervais’ new stand-up special SuperNature wastes no time in getting to calling trans women “the new women” and more specifically “the ones with beards and c*cks.”
Following the wildfire notoriety of Chappelle’s transphobic special The Closer, it seems both Netflix and Gervais were desperate enough for engagement to go for the target that’s been proven to cause controversy.
Netflix allegedly ordered the SuperNature special for some $20,000,000, which seems like quite a bit for the streaming giant to shell out for Gervais’ repetitive jokes. This latest release comes in the face of a steadily declining user base for the streaming giant and a mass of layoffs that impacted a lot of the queer creatives who had worked for Netflix, and it’s hard to imagine too much queer goodwill is still left for the company.
Gervais ended his transphobic segment with a pretty cognitively dissonant statement: “In real life, I support trans rights. I support all human rights. 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*ck.”
It’s hard to imagine that Gervais in any way believes any of those first few statements based on the last one.
Some people will undoubtedly rehash the argument that it’s all just jokes, anyone is free game, and that the right to ridicule minority groups is simply the practice of free speech. Arguments disproving these statements have been explained over and over for years, so rather than write up yet another essay, we’ll leave it to some real comedians to rebut. Here are James Acaster and George Carlin on comics who insist on punching down:
just gonna go ahead and repost this bit about edgy comedians from James Acaster pic.twitter.com/SKSWI1buCI
— Hannah (@hannahposts) May 21, 2022
Not hard to imagine what Carlin would say about Chappelle’s fixation on attacking trans people
— ℮oin Higgins (@EoinHiggins_) May 21, 2022
Queerty has reached out to Netflix for comment and will update this story with further developments.
ChocolateThunder
I’ll admit it: I laughed at Ricky’s joke. LOL!
johncp56
we have to understand and laugh at ourselves,
Polaro
He did hit the nail on the head.
Creamsicle
You do not know anyone’s politics based on a stand-up set. Stand-up is an act. Sure, comics use bits of their own real personality for the sake of the show, but it’s a controlled and crafted monolog.
Drawing conclusions about someone’s genuine political and social beliefs based on their stand-up is as accurate and reliable as a psychologist diagnosing an actor based on their behavior in the final cut of their films.
Terrycloth
Ricky needs controversy to get noticed. Must be the thing these days.
UlfRaynor
Is it?
I find it hilarious Charlie Grey quotes Carlin who hypocritically spouts this BS in the interview.
Here are some quotes by Carlin, in just one of his HBO comedy specials:
“I often feel sorry for homeless gay people, they have no closet to come out of.”
“If you knew a family and one of them was a homosexual who had been in an accident and was comatose, you could always comfort them by saying he, well, he was a fruit, but now he’s just a vegetable.”
He then follows up with f bombing and every other derogatory euphemism he can think of and rants about people being to sensitive and how they could all go F themselves.
I won’t even go into his routine on bisexuals.
Polaro
You mean Ricky, the guy who called out Harvey Weinstein at the Golden Globes way before anyone else? That kind of controversy?
cuteguy
I don’t see how it’s offensive? Ricky is right, if you want a lady, you want a taco and not a hot dog. As a gay man, would you want a man with a taco? Of course not. I’m all for trans rights but if you’re going fo switch genders, you should get the correct parts. I don’t think that it’s transphobic bc he wants a lady with no sausage.
bachy
Whenever I hear a comedian making a joke about gay or bi men, I find it utterly hilarious. I think it’s because I appreciate that humor is also a kind of equalizer: anyone can be the butt of a good joke, and I like being included in that. I think it’s better to be able to laugh at ourselves than to be exempted from the fun because my group is too sensitive or too wounded or too special to laugh along. It sometimes seems like the world is losing a sense of humor and that dour, grim and priggish attitudes are come to define the new reality.
UlfRaynor
That’s just it, Gervais hits every demographic, but the one the author of this hit piece chose, was the trans segment.
My question to Charlie Grey, who wrote this critique, Ricky spent almost twice as long on the Aides epidemic and you didn’t say a word about it being offensive for gay people on a site that purports to be a gay news blog, perhaps you would like to discuss that “little” oversight or is it that, like most transactivist, you don’t care about gay people?
Polaro
All this cancel culture drama over anything anyone says anymore is twisted. I’m sure you all would have tried to cancel Joan Rivers too. She’d have told you to grow up. It is also kind of twisted what and how cancel culture works. Wearing a kimono while being white will get you accused of cultural appropriation, but dressing up as a woman isn’t gender appropriation (no, I don’t actually believe either is wrong). Accusing a man of sexual assault is an instant guilty verdict, much like the catch 22 of being accused of witchcraft; once accused you either sink nd die to prove you innocence or live only to be burned at the stake.
There really is something wrong with you people. If you all weren’t so smug and vicious it would be harmless, but you aren’t.
Bottom line, if its a funny joke it funny. If it’s just mean, then it isn’t a joke. Most grown ups can tell the difference.
Polaro
I do think it is funny how you can post something on Queerty and if you use a trigger word it goes into moderation, except they are too cheap to have moderators. Or proof readers, or any sort of journalistic integrity.
inbama
We look people in the eye, tell them “penis” is a female organ, and then act shocked cause they laugh at us.
LeBlevsez
Are you sure that’s why people are laughing at you?
inbama
@LeBlevsez
It’s certainly why they’re applauding Gervais.
Polaro
@LeB you really need to pick your fights. I think we’re now laughing at you.
Eternal.Cowboy
I get Alabama ranks 49th out of 50 in education and you are working with a distinct disadvantage when it comes to critical thought. It’s not entirely your fault. Anyway, I’m the U.S. support for trans rights is past the 60% make and keeps growing. So this “they” that you are concerned about have an unpopular opinion that is growing increasing less popular. So you can wrong your hands about the laughter of bigots like yourself but the problem is solved. Y’all can laugh your way to the dustbin of history. Cheer.
JJinAus
He is an ally. Just saying.
ciasteczek
Let me just say one thing: RG is one of the greatest comedians of our lifetime. His timing, wit and understading of the world around us makes him the master in his craft. I dont give a single F if trans people or any other people gets offended by his jokes. Honestly if you are offended you are simply to dumb to understand it and his stend up is actually not for you.
Eternal.Cowboy
And we care about your opinion because ….. yeah I don’t know, being a moron on the internet isn’t exactly a skill.
ciasteczek
@Eternal.Cowboy apparently you care enough to write this :*
Eternal.Cowboy
Ohh…. you got me…. with zingers like that I can see why fancy yourself an expert on comedy. Next time you can go for the really edgy material like “I’m rubber you’re glue…”
Bless your heart, you are trying.
Ronbo
We can all understand Charley Grey’s desire to stop agressive attacks against all LGBTQ individuals. I understand – we’ve only just achieved a taste of governmental support (Ending DOMA, DADT etc…),
However, attacking comedians for their inclusion of LGBTQ jokes, seems contrary to the goal of acceptance and inclusion. If you can’t laugh at yourself, you are probably attacking others. It’s the one characteristic of extremist Republicans and some trans individuals.
Eternal.Cowboy
Yes, just like we will know when racism has been defeated when comedians can make racist jokes…
Are you part of a contest to say the stupidest thing possible in the Queerty comments section?