Ricky Gervais’ Unfiltered Critique of Hollywood’s ‘Wokeness’: A Closer Look

Ricky Gervais is known for his unapologetic humor and sharp critiques of celebrity culture, and few performances showcase this more than his 2020 Golden Globes monologue. Using his platform to challenge the “woke” trends in Hollywood, Gervais targeted everything from political speeches to cultural hypocrisy, making him both celebrated and controversial.

The Set-Up: Takedown of Political Speeches at Award Shows

Gervais opened with an audacious directive for award winners: “Don’t use it as a platform to make a political speech.” He argued that Hollywood elites, out of touch with the struggles of ordinary people, lacked credibility when speaking on real-world issues. In a sharp comparison, he noted many stars spent “less time in school than Greta Thunberg,” suggesting their knowledge on complex matters was limited. Gervais implied that accepting their awards without attempting to influence the audience would be a far more genuine act.

This introduction instantly separated Gervais from the celebrities in attendance and framed him as an outsider, ready to expose the bubble that Hollywood sometimes creates around itself.

Calling Out Hypocrisy in Hollywood’s Power Structure

Moving on, Gervais took aim at Hollywood executives, making a biting joke about their fear of investigative journalist Ronan Farrow, who famously uncovered allegations of sexual abuse against powerful figures like Harvey Weinstein. By bringing Farrow’s name into his monologue, Gervais implied that many Hollywood figures were still shielding abuse or were complicit in covering it up. His remark suggested an undercurrent of complicity and silence, pointing to how the industry might protect those guilty of serious misconduct, even while endorsing social justice causes publicly.

Then came a particularly jarring joke about “perverts,” which Gervais delivered with his trademark deadpan tone: “It was a big year for pedophile movies: Surviving R. Kelly, Leaving Neverland, and The Two Popes.” This line, directly likening real-life scandals to a satirical critique of Hollywood productions, made an uncomfortable connection between entertainment and issues of exploitation, further driving home Gervais’s disdain for perceived hypocrisy within the industry.

Caitlyn Jenner and the “Woke Mob”

Caitlyn Jenner, a celebrated figure in the LGBTQ+ community and a common subject in discussions about gender identity, was another target of Gervais’s critique. He referenced past criticism he received for using Jenner’s former name, “dead naming,” which refers to addressing a trans person by their previous name. Gervais used the opportunity to poke fun at the concept, noting his “mistake” in a deliberately exaggerated manner that highlighted the absurdity he saw in such strict linguistic policing.

In a classic example of his layered satire, Gervais continued by humorously identifying himself as a “chimp” and mockingly instructed others to refer to him by a new name, “Bobo.” This comedic take on identity was his way of questioning the boundaries of self-identification, challenging the “woke” narrative that identities are always inviolable and suggesting that hyperbolic adherence to such labels can seem unreasonable.

Satire on Celebrity Political Influence

Gervais also lampooned the notion of celebrity influence in politics, releasing a video where he played a mock “wellness and beauty influencer” instructing his fans on voting. His exaggerated tone and absurd statements—claiming that not voting for certain candidates was “like a hate crime”—reflected his view that celebrities are often unqualified to speak on political matters. He argued that celebrity endorsements, more likely than not, reflect a disconnect from real issues affecting their audience, and suggested stars should focus on their craft rather than pushing agendas they might not fully understand.

Addressing the Entertainment Media

Gervais even reserved a portion of his critique for entertainment journalists, whose influence in shaping public opinion is often seen as promoting “woke” ideals. In one of the most iconic moments of the night, he tackled Hollywood’s bias by claiming that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the voting body of the Golden Globes, was “very, very racist.” Though meant as a hyperbolic critique, it exposed the industry’s ongoing struggle with diversity and inclusivity—an issue that entertainment media often amplifies but fails to resolve in meaningful ways.

The reaction shots from the audience, especially from notable figures like Tom Hanks, underscored how shocking Gervais’s statements were. For a moment, the usual glamor of award shows was disrupted, and the laughter was mixed with discomfort and disbelief.

Gervais’s Legacy: Challenging Hollywood’s “Woke” Culture

Ricky Gervais’s monologue at the Golden Globes stands as a landmark moment of comedic defiance. His approach highlighted Hollywood’s contradictions—publicly supporting social justice while avoiding accountability—and invited viewers to question the authenticity of celebrity activism. For some, Gervais’s monologue was refreshing, a stark reminder that not everyone in Hollywood buys into the “woke” narratives. For others, it was offensive, dismissive, and perhaps irresponsible.

Regardless of where one stands, Gervais’s performance exemplified the power of comedy to challenge dominant cultural narratives, and his words left a lasting impact on Hollywood. As audiences become more aware of the gap between what celebrities advocate and the lives they lead, Gervais’s critiques continue to resonate, urging viewers to consider the authenticity of “woke” Hollywood.