Ricky Gervais criticizes Oscar speeches that ‘lecture everyday, hard working people’
Ricky Gervais is warning celebrities against political speeches after a number of them spoke out at the Oscars over the weekend, saying that the comments to “everyday, hard working people” at Hollywood awards shows usually backfire.
“I have nothing against the most famous people in the world using their privileged, global platform to tell the world what they believe,” the comedian and five-time Golden Globes host tweeted Monday, a day after the 92nd annual Academy Awards.
“I even agree with most of it,” Gervais said to his more than 14 million followers. “I just tried to warn them that when they lecture everyday, hard working people, it has the opposite effect.”
I have nothing against the most famous people in the world using their privileged, global platform to tell the world what they believe. I even agree with most of it. I just tried to warn them that when they lecture everyday, hard working people, it has the opposite effect. Peace.
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) February 10, 2020
Gervais’s comments came after several stars got political at this year’s Academy Awards.
Brad Pitt made mention of President Trump’s impeachment trial, while Joaquin Phoenix made a plea for animal rights, saying people “go into the natural world and we plunder it for its resources.”
In an apparently since-deleted tweet, Gervais said of Phoenix’s Oscars speech, “I think he’s great.”
“And most of his stuff was actually humanitarian. But I know for a fact that lots of people hate overtly partly political lectures from celebrities and dig their heels in. That’s all,” Gervais reportedly said.
Ahead of the telecast on Sunday, Gervais hit at Hollywood with some of his barbs, tweeting that if he was hosting the annual awards show he’d quip onstage, “I can’t wait to hear all your inspirational speeches about equality, and it’s great that the 3 hours you’re here tonight is the only time your badly paid migrant house staff will get some time off to sleep this week.”
“I can’t wait to hear all your inspirational speeches about equality, and it’s great that the 3 hours you’re here tonight is the only time your badly paid migrant house staff will get some time off to sleep this week” https://t.co/fsFbdDkv6u
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) February 9, 2020
While headlining the Golden Globes last month, Gervais, 58, urged winners not to get political.
“You know nothing about the real world,” the British actor told the celeb-filled audience.
“So if you win,” Gervais advised the night’s winners, “come up, accept your little award, thank your agent and your god and f— off.”
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