The new Netflix special SuperNature by Ricky Gervais has been criticized for transphobic comments. The American LGBTQI rights group Glaad calls his show ‘dangerous’.
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In the first five minutes of the Netflix special, which was released on Tuesday, Gervais started off with a series of comments about trans women. Among other things, about their use of pronouns and separate toilets. “I can laugh at cancer, the Holocaust and pedophiles,” Gervais says in his stand-up special. ‘But not with gender or trans people. It’s like they don’t have a sense of humor. Do they want to be treated equally? That’s why I joke about them!’
Shortly after, he jokes about “old-fashioned women.” They are the ones with wombs. Those damn dinosaurs. I like the new women. They’re great, aren’t they? The new ones we’ve been seeing lately. The one with beards and cocks.’
US LGBTQI rights group responds: ‘We watched Ricky Gervais’ comedy special on Netflix so you don’t have to. It’s full of dangerous and transphobic diatribes masquerading as jokes. He also spreads incorrect information about HIV.’
“While Netflix is home to some groundbreaking LGBTQI shows, it refuses to enforce its own policies in comedies,” Glaad said in a statement.
Alexis Rangel, a policy adviser to the National Center for Transgender Equality, said jokes about trans people can lead to discrimination and physical violence. “These jokes aren’t funny, and they can do more damage than just hurt.”
“In real life, of course, I support trans rights,” Gervais says later. ‘I support all human rights, and trans rights are human rights. Live your best life. Be the gender you feel you are. But, ladies, lose the dick.’
Gervais and Netflix have not yet responded to requests for comment.
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