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.
24 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.rexnine | Jan 21, 2011, 10:17 PM EST
Ricky is , to simply put it: A pompous ass. If you asked Ricky to look-up "humility" in the dictionary and report back what he found; He would reply he saw a "picture of Ricky Gervais". John Stewart is not Only funnier than Ricky...He's a good citizen! Ricky is a clown, And that's all he is. I can work my job Monday through Friday, and be a clown on the weekends. What Does Ricky have to offer society?
ancavker | Jan 20, 2011, 02:17 PM EST
youngpike: Please do not paint with a broad brush. Just because so many Irish ape and copy the English, does not mean they are one and the same. There are still osme Irish who wish still be simply Irish. The Irish copy the English because they believe them to be better. How come the Irish cannot get over their old inferiority complex after all these years??
forflann | Nov 03, 2010, 11:33 PM EDT
OMG!!! I remember my Belfast Irishman sayin theres two kind a people in this world, Irish and those that wish they were.
YoungPike | Jun 16, 2010, 09:05 AM EDT
The Irish-Americans need to lighten up and get a sense of humor!Go to England and you'll find the Irish and the English are one and the same. And as for Peter O'Toole being Irish...he's got an upper-class English accent.
Realist | Feb 02, 2010, 03:18 AM EST
You really have got one great big chip on your shoulders about the British, haven't you? I suggest you pack in the old victim routine chaps (it's well past its sell-by date anyhow) and grow a sense of humour.
yetiweasel | Jan 24, 2010, 06:26 AM EST
Just looking and listening to garvals makes me wanna puke.
ganjadec | Jan 24, 2010, 04:41 AM EST
Who cares what a man who comes from a nation of soccer hooligans and paedophiles thinks?
ladygirl | Jan 24, 2010, 03:25 AM EST
Get over yourselves!! It was funny! Sometimes the truth hits hard but if you can't laugh at yourself then you are in for a hard life. I loved Ricky Gervais and I am glad he makes no apologies...
SmartSistahLL | Jan 24, 2010, 02:36 AM EST
Since Gervais isn't Irish, he shouldn't be making comments about the Irish. Let Irish folks make comments about their own cultural group. It wasn't funny. Colin Ferrell deserved a better intro, as did Mel Gibson...those two actors have accomplished so many other things, so their personal struggles shouldn't have been highlighted for comedy. Poor taste. Ricky Gervais sucks!
rosyposy | Jan 23, 2010, 06:58 AM EST
what is black and blue and floats in the thames? an englishman who told toooooo many irish jokes.
joycelips | Jan 23, 2010, 12:16 AM EST
Gervais was offensive across the board but, I found him particularly offensive with Colin Farrell. The reason being that Colin has been clean and sober for some time now and the Gervais' remark was not at all funny. I found it to be nasty! Further, I think his so-called "humour" thrown at both Colin Paul McCartney was more than annoying -- I found it to be disgusting!
ciarrai | Jan 22, 2010, 11:50 PM EST
Gervais was quite funny at times. However, the zinger he threw at Paul McCartney and the one at Irishmen were annoying. I was coming up with lines I might have spoken had I been Colin Farrell. I wish someone had ripped him on McCartney' account. Don't mess with a Beatle. Ever.
skmcoke | Jan 22, 2010, 03:46 PM EST
My thought is that we need to get a sense of humor! I didn't find Ricky particularly funny, but he was an equal opportunity insulter. He wasn't picking on the Irish - he was just picking on whoever happened to be coming up. Comedy is the last stand against "political correctness" - let's not lose it too!
shrinnkie246 | Jan 22, 2010, 11:52 AM EST
I've never been impressed with Gervais's jokes. Frankly I've never thought they were very funny and I didn't find them funny last Sunday night at the Golden Globes either. I hope they get someone else for next year's show.
brennanirish | Jan 22, 2010, 10:58 AM EST
Gervais didn't say "Hollywood" in his comment, he said "Irishman". Much different. Intentional Slurs like that are always supposed to be laughed off by the Irish. Gervais is pathetic so was this article.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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...
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,
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!!! ;-)
Fionnuisce | Jan 21, 2010, 12:01 AM EST
Naughty naughty.
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.