Ricky Gervais brilliantly fires back as he's accused of 'whining about being cancelled' in new stand-up special

In Mortality, Mr Gervais poked fun at the current state of affairs amid a "really weird time" for comedy while also laying into "virtue-signalling" elites and those who take offence easily.

At one point during the show, while addressing his audience, The Office co-creator remarked: "It's great to hear this sort of laughter again, because you probably don't notice it as much as comedians, but we've had a really weird 10 years where we're really second-[guessing jokes]."

The comedian went on to proclaim triumph over those who take offence at his material, stating: "People find anything offensive, but we pushed back, and we won. So f*** them."

Mr Gervais reserved particular scorn for those he believes police what ordinary people find funny, targeting "educated, middle-class, privileged, elitist, sort of people telling ordinary working-class people what they can and can't do and say and laugh, not realising how important comedy is to ordinary people."

The After Life creator acknowledged that numerous attempts have been made to cancel him over the past 15 years, including criticism from fellow comedians who accuse him of "punching down."

"They've always failed," he declared. "I'm too old now not to say what I want. I want to say and do what I want all the time. I want to do my favourite thing all the time."

Mr Gervais also took aim at social media's role in the age of cancel culture. "With the advent of social media, people suddenly discovered they could just say they were virtuous. No evidence, no proof, just loads of flags in their bio," he explained.

"And they would raise their status by bringing other people down, catching other people out … And that's where the term virtue signalling comes from, right?"

The comedian added: "The most annoying thing about virtue signalling is people being smug about having the morality of the age. You're what you're like because of where you are and when you are."

Mr Gervais' special has now shot to number one in the Netflix charts, with the comic receiving floods of praise on social media since its debut. However, the Extras co-creator has also decided to address some of the inevitable complaints.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• Ricky Gervais sparks culture war by claiming working class people are comedy’s last safe target
• Amber Davies 'had every right' to make Strictly final amid dance background row says ITV co-star - EXCLUSIVE
• Adam Peaty's mother 'outraged' and 'hurt' following Gordon Ramsay's comments on son's wedding day

One X user took issue with the subject matter of Mortality, remarking: "Ricky Gervais claiming 'victory' over the elites while cashed out on a massive Netflix check is the ultimate safe-space rebellion. He’s spent a decade whining about being 'canceled' from the center of the world's biggest stage.

"It’s not 'edgy' to mock things everyone already hates; it’s just profitable. Bragging about a joke you 'bottled' isn't a flex, it’s an admission that you’re just as scared of the 'elites' as everyone else."

Mr Gervais responded to the complaint, rather expertly pointing out: "I’ve never moaned about being cancelled because I’ve never been cancelled.

"I have moaned about nurses and teachers and office workers being cancelled for stating honest opinions under certain authoritarian trends though. Luckily we’re coming out of that phase though. Thanks for watching." (sic)

I’ve never moaned about being cancelled because I’ve never been cancelled. I have moaned about nurses and teachers and office workers being cancelled for stating honest opinions under certain authoritarian trends though. Luckily we’re coming out of that phase though. Thanks for…

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) December 30, 2025

Social media complaints were in a minority when it came to the reception Mortality received, however, with Mr Gervais reposting just a handful of the complimentary messages his special earned in the 24 hours since its premiere.

Game of Thrones actor James Dreyfus was among the supporters who penned on X: "Watch this. It’s absolutely f**king hilarious. Mortality. Best yet!"

"Just finished watching & happy to say free speech is safe in the hands of Ricky Gervais! Brilliantly written & delivered," another X user added, while a third praised: "Just watched Ricky Gervais new stand up Morality on Netflix. Absolutely loved it. My favorite show he's done. @rickygervais @netflix." (sic)