Netflix’s Ricky Gervais Show Draws Rebukes From LGBTQ Groups
Less than one year after employees at Netflix, Inc. staged a walkout in response to a Dave Chappelle stand-up special, the streaming giant has released another program in which a major comedian — this time, Ricky Gervais — makes jokes at the expense of transgender people.
The special, titled «SuperNature», debuted on Netflix, Tuesday. Roughly four minutes into the program, Gervais begins talking about transgender women, as well as their pronouns and bodies.
«The one thing you mustn’t joke about is identity politics», Gervais said in the special according to bnnbloomberg.ca. «The one thing you should never joke about is the ‘trans issue.’ They just want to be treated equally. Right, that’s why I include them».
The program drew an immediate backlash from LGBTQ activists who said it promotes stereotypes and could lead to physical harm against transgender people, bnnbloomberg.ca reports.