Mainstream Media Quickly Defends Hollywood Stars from Ricky Gervais' Golden Globes Barbs
Many in the mainstream media rushed to the defense of Hollywood in response to Rick Gervais’ scorching monologue at the Golden Globe Awards in California on Sunday night.
Gervais savagely mocked those in attendance as out-of-touch elitists and hypocrites.
“This is the last time I’m hosting these awards. I don’t care anymore,” he said during his opening monologue. “I’m joking: I never did.”
Gervais asked the audience to have a sense of humor before opening fire with both barrels.
“Let’s go out with a bang. Let’s have a laugh at your expense,” he said. “Remember, they’re just jokes. We’re all gonna die soon and there’s no sequel, so remember that.”
With Apple CEO Tim Cook in the crowd, the British comedian said the tech company “roared into the TV game with ‘The Morning Show,’ a superb drama about the importance of dignity and doing the right thing, made by a company that runs sweatshops in China.
“Well, you say you’re woke, but the companies you work for in China — I mean, unbelievable. Apple, Amazon, Disney. If ISIS started a streaming service you’d call your agent, wouldn’t you?
“So if you do win an award tonight, don’t use it as a platform to make a political speech. You’re in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world. Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg. So, if you win, come up, accept your little award, thank your agent and your god, and f— off.”
He also pointed to the #MeToo sexual misconduct scandal that has rocked Hollywood in recent years.
“Tonight isn’t just about the people in front of the camera. In this room are some of the most important TV and film executives in the world. People from every background,” Gervais said. “But they all have one thing in common: They’re all terrified of Ronan Farrow. He’s coming for ya. He’s coming for ya.”
While many viewers applauded his bold takedown of Hollywood’s high and mighty, mainstream media outlets were much less enthusiastic about his monologue.
The Washington Post, for example, declared that “nobody cared” about Gervais’ truthful jokes — ignoring the fact that #HollywoodHypocrites was trending on Twitter.
Review: Ricky Gervais’s sharpest barb poked Hollywood’s piety. Nobody cared. https://t.co/e5J8AULxs7
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) January 6, 2020
Slate called Gervais a “jerk” and claimed the zinger about Hollywood celebrities being out of touch was “a swing and a miss.”
Just how big a jerk was Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globes? https://t.co/gnEU7lFYER
— Slate (@Slate) January 6, 2020
CNN praised Hollywood stars for addressing political topics in spite of Gervais’ dissuasion.
Concerns beyond Hollywood took center stage at the #GoldenGlobes, with presenters and winners citing the brushfires in Australia and the need to address the climate crisis, possible war with Iran and abortion rights https://t.co/ri3tt5GTsx pic.twitter.com/DchlPswAEG
— CNN (@CNN) January 6, 2020
The public response was much different.
Many Twitter users lambasted the media outlets’ stance on Gervais’ Golden Globes performance.
Actually, we all cared and found it hilariously relevant and prudent.
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) January 6, 2020
Nobody—meaning everybody in the middle of the country. About 65 million people the leftist elites and the biased media wish didn’t exist. #WalkAway
— sam arden (@samarden7) January 6, 2020
Thanks Ricky for telling Hollywood right to their faces what everyday people have been saying for years! ??
— WestCoast_Life (@westcoast_lyfe) January 6, 2020
He told the truth, which is why you and everyone in that room is furious.
— Roaster Toaster (@FromBeyondTheG3) January 6, 2020
Apparently they didn’t listen to #RickyGervais ?
Greatest. Monologue. Ever.
— 2 Shaye (@ShayeMarr) January 6, 2020
Meanwhile, NBC’s YouTube video of Gervais’ monologue had over 3 million views by Monday evening, with 148,000 thumbs up and just 2,000 thumbs down.
YouTube commenters seemed delighted by Gervais’ speech.
“I cried laughing. This feels like Justice,” one said.
“This man deserves a golden globe for most epic monologue ever given in an award show,” another YouTube user said.
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