‘Ya brave little cis boy!’
A clip from James Acaster’s 2019 stand-up show in which he calls out “edgy comedians” and Ricky Gervais has been widely shared online following Gervais’ new Netflix show.
In his latest Netflix comedy special, Gervais makes a number of jokes mocking members of the transgender community, prompting widespread condemnation and accusations of transphobia against the comic.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd-teBKIk8B/
But many have turned to another British comedian to highlight why Gervais’ stand up isn’t okay.
In the segment from his 2019 show, Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999, Acaster mocks Gervais for his claims that he is defending free speech and hitting back at cancel culture by making jokes about the trans community.
In the clip, Acaster says: “They say whatever they like, edgy comedians. No one tells them what they can and can’t say. They walk straight on stage, top of their specials sometimes, and do 10 solid minutes just slagging off transgender people.
“People on the internet get upset about it… the comedian’s always like, ‘Bad luck, that’s my job, I’m a stand-up comedian, I’m there to challenge people. If you don’t like being challenged, don’t watch my show. What’s the matter guys, too challenging for you?’”
In one fell swoop, the comedian then dismantles Gervais’ schtick, saying: “Yeah, because you know who’s been long overdue a challenge? The trans community.
“They’ve had their guard down for too long, if you ask me. They’ll all be checking their privilege on the way home, thanks to you, you brave little cis boy!”
For those – and today it's Daily Mail readers, Trumpists, the far-right and the usual thickos and multidigit name bot accounts, arguing for 'edgy' comedy, have a listen to James Acaster talking about trans hatred, punching down and "brave little cis boy" Ricky Gervais https://t.co/ch1SC7AEE1 pic.twitter.com/ziKMPA481B
— Will Black (@WillBlackWriter) May 24, 2022
He then explains “I used to name one of the comedians that was about, in that routine, but it always got really awkward in the room because apparently in 2019 most people are still more than happy to laugh at trans people but they’re not comfortable laughing at Ricky Gervais yet.”
One Twitter user shared the clip, with the caption: “Nothing to say about Ricky Gervais that James Acaster hasn’t already said.”
nothing to say about ricky gervais that james acaster hasn’t already said https://t.co/ahsnteVfSy pic.twitter.com/nJhasyWrU9
— ruth (@ruth_walshe) May 24, 2022
https://twitter.com/amcnal/status/1529092501587603456
Another shared it encouraging people to “listen to James Acaster talking about trans hatred, punching down and ‘brave little cis boy’ Ricky Gervais.”
I cannot think of transphobic 'comedians' without immediately hearing James acaster slagging them off. ya BRAVE LITTLE CIS BOOOOY. https://t.co/2wLLRbbAUX
— Calvin Wong Tze Loon 黃子倫
(@ithayla) May 22, 2022
James Acaster wasn’t lying, people really do say “you can joke about anything” but get really annoyed when you joke about Ricky Gervais.
— AdequateEmily (@AdequateEmily) May 25, 2022
Last year, Dave Chappelle faced widespread criticism for his Netflix special in which he also spends much of his routine on the subject of the trans community.
Netflix staff reportedly threatened a walkout over the special.
Related links:
- Ricky Gervais finally says what we’re all thinking about the Johnny Depp Amber Heard case
- A trans-rights culture war is overshadowing the Scottish independence debate
- Disney heir comes out as Transgender and apologises for not doing more against controversial bill
