Comedian and Netflix star Ricky Gervais has hit out at viewers after a clip of his latest comedy routine caused 'major offence.'
The star is known for his controversial comedy shows and his latest Christmas special appears to have sparked backlash from its viewers.
In the clip of a special episode that is set to be released on Christmas Day on Netflix, Gervais is talking about how he has been doing video messages for the Make A Wish foundation, a charity that supports children with terminal illnesses.
He said: "I've been doing a lot of video messages recently for terminally ill children.
Ricky Gervais's Christmas special will be available to stream on Christmas Day
Netflix
"Only if they request it. Obviously I don't burst into hospitals and go 'Wake up baldy'. Look at me twerking on TikTok.
"I did a lot through the pandemic, presumably because they couldn't even see their own family.
"I always start the video the same way I go 'Why didn't you wish to get better?' What are you f****** r******* as well?"
He explained afterwards that this is 'obviously a joke.' Now, during a recent interview, Gervais has hit back at viewers who have slammed him for his skit.
A clip from his show caused viewers to "feel offended"
Netflix
Talking to BBC Radio 5 Live he said: "I'm literally saying in the joke that I don’t do that. But people have a reaction.
"They don't analyse it. They feel something – that's what offence is. It's a feeling. That's why 'I'm offended' is quite meaningless. What do you want me to change?"
Gervais went on to say that he believes "99 per cent" of the outrage is "faux offence".
He added: "They're not really offended. They just want to be heard. "Of all the millions of people that watched it and loved it, only a few don't like it."
He has hit back at viewer
GBNews
"If I give them special attention and try to placate them, I've annoyed the other millions of people that got the joke. They go, 'No, you've ruined it for us!"
He finished off by saying: "I've got a duty to the people that like it and get it. I wouldn't sit down with a heckler, would I? If I'm playing to 20,000 people, I wouldn't stop the show and explain to them. I ignore them."
The trailer has provoked calls for a petition demanding Netflix remove the show. It has racked up more than 6000 signatures.
The petition said: "The recent skit by Ricky Gervais on Netflix, where he refers to terminally ill children as 'baldy', is not just disrespectful but also deeply hurtful.
"Ricky Gervais's jokes were not only distasteful but also heartless. They are a slap in the face to not only the children battling these serious illnesses but also their parents and families who stand by them through this difficult journey."