Ricky Gervais Reveals Why He Enjoys Making People Uncomfortable with His Jokes

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comedian, actor, writer, producer, creator of television series, director, songwriter, and author of children’s books. To add to his impressive resume, he has earned seven BAFTAs, two Emmys, four Golden Globes, and entered the Guinness Book of World Records (for having the most downloaded podcast). On May 30, he will also receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Initially, the idea of needing assistance in getting up from all fours crossed his mind, finding it potentially awkward given the presence of photographers: “I could use a hand standing up,” he chuckles, “I’d rather not make a scene here.” Yet, the label of an overachiever catches him off guard when it’s applied to him. “It’s odd because I feel like the laziest individual on earth. I don’t have the motivation for much these days,” he admits. However, upon reflection, he corrects his statement: “Actually, that’s not accurate. I do get impressed with myself when I manage a good shot at tennis. I remark, ‘Wow, how did you contort that chunky body of yours into that shot? That was fantastic, Rick!’

Gervais excels in various areas due to a single factor: he engages in activities he finds enjoyable, a strategy seldom adopted by numerous individuals within the entertainment industry.

He’s expressed a lifelong desire to maintain his playful spirit, which he nurtured from childhood. He believes that every child is inherently creative, but they often lose this trait as adults due to societal pressure about what is practical and profitable. For him, creativity is simply playing with ideas. When he has an idea, it triggers an adrenaline rush and he feels excited, wondering if others might like it or hate it. The better he gets at his craft, the less he tarnishes that initial, pristine idea. This is why he prefers to handle everything himself, as he wants both the accountability and the recognition for his work. Creating is what brings him joy.

This British individual is no stranger to trouble; quite the contrary, he often finds himself right in the thick of it. He acknowledges this fact. One of his early brushes with controversy took place in 2007, during a U.K. tour of his show “Fame,” when he made an unfortunate joke about the tragic murders of five prostitutes in Suffolk that was poorly timed. More recently, he has been criticized for jokes in his standup specials that are perceived by many as offensive towards the LGBTQ+ community.

He often points out that the source of offense in humor frequently arises when someone confuses the topic of a joke with its intended target. While these may not always be the same, everyone has something they prefer not to jest about due to their humanity. He then emphasizes that he tells 20 jokes, all dealing with controversial or taboo subjects, and people find humor in nineteen of them, but not the one that hits close to home. This reaction, he says, is instinctual and unavoidable. He believes that humor should steer clear of personal matters. To him, comedy is a form of intellectual endeavor, yet it’s challenging to move past this because jokes can evoke memories. No one wants to be reminded of unpleasant experiences, but he finds the tension this creates intriguing. He enjoys making people feel slightly uncomfortable when starting a joke and worrying about what might follow.

Essentially, his standup often leaves listeners with a particular sense of thoughtfulness, as there are no spontaneous remarks – everything he says is carefully contemplated. Initially intending to major in biology during university, he eventually shifted his focus to philosophy, which is evident in the way he approaches interviews on talk shows – his method involves thorough analysis and a knack for avoiding ambiguity by posing questions within questions. He delves deeply into subjects and infuses his unique perspective of humor into them. To illustrate this, consider his dark comedy series “Derek” and “After Life,” as well as the film “The Invention of Lying.

He shares that his interests have long been centered around significant topics and people. Everything he engages in essentially revolves around humanity, encompassing a wide range from ethics to non-verbal cues, human behavior, and their concerns – including all their anxieties. It’s as if he’s leading them through a frightening woods, and when they emerge on the other side into the light, they express relief or admiration, saying things like ‘That wasn’t so bad’ or ‘I get it now. That was quite clever, wasn’t it?’

He pays close attention to his public persona and the impressions people have of him before they even meet him. However, he considers much of this as “self-promotion.” To illustrate, he references his time hosting the Golden Globes. He explains that the perception created by the phrase “It’s live. He could say anything. Oh, my God. He’s brutal. Oh, he doesn’t care about anything” is a marketing tactic. In reality, he carefully crafts and vets every joke to ensure they are well thought out and resilient. Despite appearing spontaneous and unfiltered, he admits that he’s not really a loose cannon. He may have a sip of alcohol, but he’s never drunk, and his actions are always calculated. In other words, the image of him being brutally honest is just a carefully constructed facade.

Reflecting back to the time he hosted the Globes in 2010, he says it felt like the American media was accusing him of a serious crime. “There’s this false assumption that I don’t care about anything,” he explains. “However, I deeply value people’s opinions about my work and my art. It’s just that you have to accept that some people will dislike it. When you understand that there are just as many people who admire you as those who criticize you, you become more at ease. I know what the response to my next stand-up will be – some will hate it and others will love it. This is because everyone is unique, and you have to stir controversy. If you don’t provoke reactions, you might as well not perform at all. So, you must brace yourself for the turbulence. You chose to set sail; you can’t complain about rough waters when you embarked on the journey. I know it will be stormy, so I prepare myself. I wear durable boots and a waterproof coat. And I learn to navigate.

Regarding the debate over comedians crossing boundaries, Ricky Gervais expresses: “Everyone has the right to dislike you, dislike your work, refrain from buying your tickets, or skipping your movies. That’s distinct from a film studio forbidding people to express their personal opinions on social media because it harms the product. Censorship isn’t simply choosing to switch off your own TV; it’s someone forcing you to do so. I believe some people may confuse this with censorship. I make my own choices. When is a joke acceptable enough to be hated? Is it worth hating over? Usually, I decide to either make the joke more acceptable or easier to understand, or simply avoid ruining someone’s day.

I conclude our chat by inquiring from Gervais whether there’s any moment in his lifetime that has given him immense joy, something he’d wish to reexperience. His emotional reply is sure to evoke a “aww” response.

What immediately came to mind was: At the moment, I don’t own a dog, but I grew up around both dogs and cats. Jane and I take a daily walk wherever we go, mainly to encounter dogs. Whether it’s New York or London, and over time, you start seeing the same dogs and they recognize us. It’s like a magical feeling, almost as if I can’t quite put my finger on it. It’s something akin to happiness pills. So merely observing a dog brings joy to me. If a dog is playing, I find myself slowing down, just enjoying the pure delight.

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2025-05-30 18:51