Ricky Gervais Defends Trans Jokes at Golden Globes, Continues Being Unfunny

The Golden Globes, much like nearly all awards shows, was hard to sit through, but not making it any easier was host Ricky Gervais, whose tired schtick as non-schtick wore thin within the first few minutes seconds.

Related | 2016 Golden Globe Awards: The Good, the Gay & the Gaga

Gervais also raised the ire of the internet with a few jokes aimed at Caitlyn Jenner, particularly this clunker that he rifled off to open the show:

Gervais went on to add:

"What a year she's had. 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 do everything."

Meh. That joke's about as stale as that glass of beer he was toting around all night. But Gervais later responded to critics via Twitter:

Not to defend Ricky Gervais, but he kind of has a point, especially in this overly politically correct world, where we're often too quick to point the withering finger of shame. His jokes about Caitlyn Jenner were not great, by any means, and using her former name was disrespectful. But comedy is not about being reverent, it's about being irreverent. More importantly, it's about being funny. Which Gervais was not.

Take, for instance, how he introduced Eddie Redmayne.

How do you feel about that, Alan Cumming?

Womp-womp.

Being trans or queer shouldn't be the punchline--it's lazy, and it's not the '90s anymore when that shit would fly. Comedy is supposed to not only critique the times, but change with them. But if people are going to be offended every time a comedian makes an insensitive joke, well there's no point to comedy at all.

It would, however, behoove Gervais to watch the latest, rather brilliant season of South Park for a few notes on how to satirize with a mix of finesse and the funny.