Ricky Gervais risks cancellation over eyebrow-raising Walk of Fame award speech
Comedian, Ricky Gervais, has been awarded a coveted Hollywood Walk of Fame Award in Los Angeles, but risked getting cancelled when he made a speech accepting the honour
Ricky Gervais risked getting cancelled on Friday when he accepted a prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame award. The outspoken comedian, 63, was bestowed the honour for his services to the entertainment world and posed proudly for snaps with his very own star on Hollywood Boulevard at the iconic landmark in Los Angeles.
Dressed casually, sporting a black T-shirt, jeans, trainers and sunglasses, The Office star admitted he was "surprised" to be part of the Walk of Fame, which boasts a number of huge A-listers from the past and present. However, risking the honour with a follow-up statement, Ricky made a joke about being grateful to join some of the legends memorialised on the boulevard as he referenced Michael Jackson, Bill Cosby and Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle — all of whom have faced accusations of sexual assault.
"Thank you so much for this honour. It's a genuine thrill to be part of such an exclusive club," Ricky said, reports Variety. He continued: "And just looking around earlier at all the other stars, absolute icons, you know? Michael Jackson, Bill Cosby, Fatty Arbuckle."
All three men went to trial for their alleged crimes, but only The Cosby Show star, Cosby, was convicted for sexual assault – but later had the conviction overturned – while Jackson was acquitted over molestation allegations and Arbuckle was acquitted of rape and manslaughter.
Ricky, who left the Golden Globes audience skewered in 2020 when he made 'woke' jokes about Jeffrey Epstein, Harvey Weinstein and Prince Andrew, began his speech, saying: "Wow, this is a huge surprise. I never thought I'd win this today."
Unfolding a piece of paper, he went on: "I haven't even prepared a speech or anything. I should firstly apologize for how I'm dressed. This isn't me trying to be cool or disrespectful to the establishment. This is me not having a suit that fits anymore."
He later joked about how his job is to be "not very good at taking things too seriously" and delivered his controversial comments about the company he was keeping on the Walk of Fame despite saying he was "going to try and be serious".
Ricky is no stranger to a raised eyebrow with his speeches and left the Golden Globes audience in 2020 open-mouthed with his controversial delivery.
Hosting the ceremony for the fifth time, the comedian went off on an eight-minute monologue criticising various aspects of Hollywood, bringing in issues of racism, the Epstein scandal and finishing the speech with a jab at every 'woke' celebrity that tries to lecture the world as they're receiving the awards.
Ricky was slammed by many celebrities the morning after the awards, with several accusing the After Life star of being 'cruel' and 'unkind' as he poked fun at the toast of Tinseltown.
However, responding to criticism on Twitter, now X, the comic said: "Thank you for all your amazing comments about my Golden Globes monologue. Best reaction ever, that means a lot to me.
"I had a blast but thank f*** it's over so I can get back to my real job of editing #AfterLife2 and touring #SuperNature. Makes jokes not war."
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