Was Ricky Gervais offensive with Colin Farrell drunkard jibe?

Posted on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 10:26 PM

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Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais is catching flak for his anti-Irish joke aimed at actor Colin Farrell as he prepared to make his entrance at Sunday night's ceremony. We had dozens of calls to our offices all this week complaining.

Gervais, sipping a beer on stage was certainly up for mischief."The great thing about the Golden Globes is that it crushes prejudice and stereotypes." he began. "A particular stereotype is that Irishmen are drunk, hairy hell raisers. Now please welcome Colin Farrell.

Farrell did not look too pleased with the mocking introduction but let's face it he has been called worse, the 'Lusty Leprechaun' among other names.

The British actor had earlier thrown the same accusation at Mel Gibson, whose mother comes from Ireland. 'I like a drink as much as the next man, unless the man in Mel Gibson' he said.
Now some Irish were obviously deeply insulted.Others less so. Gervais has a cutting edge humor not often seen over here.

But in this case I can't really blame him.Just look at Irish actors who have become famous. Richard Harris, Peter O'Toole , Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Colin Farrell in his heyday.
Yes, drunkards all and proud of it too.

Of course Pierce Brosnan and Liam Neeson would be the exceptions but the Hollywood drunk Irishman is a stereotype --not without reason I'm afraid. Gervais was only stating the obvious.

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Searlit | Jan 22, 2010, 10:43 AM EST

It wasn't nice, but that's unfortunately what can pass for humor these days, and much worse.

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bronxjames | Jan 22, 2010, 09:11 AM EST

I saw that idiot drinking beer on the show. I thought it was illegal to drink on TV?

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vincentruane | Jan 21, 2010, 09:58 PM EST

If you were to honestly make up a list of Irish peoples and Ireland's top ten enemies alcohol would probably be very high up on the list.

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Rebelforce | Jan 21, 2010, 06:04 PM EST

I taped the Golden Globes and so was able to fast forward through an hour worth of commercials and nearly half of this pathetic display of smug Hollywood "elites" congratulating each other for turning out such "extraordinary" crap. Yes, it was a real snorefest, but I'm sure it will seem downright exciting compared to the way NBC will be presenting the Olympic Games in a couple weeks as a bunch of sappy "human interest" stories instead of actual sports.

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McNabb1966 | Jan 21, 2010, 02:47 PM EST

He's paid to be offensive. His real crime was that he wasn't funny. And of course the English have now banned drinking games because they can't handle it. Lightweights...

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DrTrelawney | Jan 21, 2010, 07:49 AM EST

Farrell did not look remotely upset, nor did Gibson. For heaven's sake, the joke itself acknowledged that such a description is a "stereotype". I have been wandering around Dublin all week and have yet to find anybody who found the gag offensive. Where are these feeble wee, sensitive Irish people who are so "deeply insulted"? They really need to shake off the inferiority complex,

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andydonegal | Jan 21, 2010, 04:36 AM EST

Ignore it - the English have been making remarks about the Irish for seven or eight hundred years ... it's just a feeble cover-up for their jealousy!!! After all there are only two types of people in the world - those who are lucky enough to be Irish, and those who wish they were Irish!!! ;-)

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Fionnuisce | Jan 21, 2010, 12:01 AM EST

Naughty naughty.

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modo3134 | Jan 20, 2010, 11:59 PM EST

Definately racism. It was first used in history to rationalize British rule over Ireland and in this day in age it should not be tolerated.

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