Jonathan Ross says Ricky Gervais’ gay Scientologist joke was ‘unnecessary’
Jonathan Ross says he definitely would not have made Ricky Gervais’ Golden Globes joke about gay Scientologists.
Gervais hosted the California awards ceremony last month and told a string of risque jokes to the audience.
In his opening jokes, the comedian noted that the case of I Love You, Philip Morris had not been nominated for an award.
He said: “Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor – two heterosexual actors pretending to be gay, so the complete opposite of some famous Scientologists then.”
He added: “My lawyers helped me with the wording of that joke. They’re not here.”
Ross, whose daughter Betty recently came out publicly, told Radio Times that many of Gervais’ jokes were “unnecessary” but conceded that the publicity could help his career.
He said: “It was kind of brave, but a lot of those jokes were kind of unnecessary. I definitely wouldn’t have gone for the Scientology joke. But you have to remember Ricky’s career doesn’t depend on the Golden Globes.
“I’d say what he did will be good for him in America. Being a comedian is dependent on being brave and brutally truthful. I texted him to say well done. I couldn’t have done that. Ricky has balls of steel. I’m very glad it went well.”
Gervais’s jokes got a mixed reaction. While Johnny Depp and Robert De Niro were seen laughing heartily at the jibes, other stars sat through his comments stony-faced.
