Ricky Gervais issues fresh statement after blasting 'cowardly powers that be' for drinks ad ban in censorship rant

Alex Davies

By Alex Davies


Published: 03/11/2025

- 11:56

The comedian had taken to social media over the weekend to lash out at the 'censoring' of his marketing proposals

Ricky Gervais has returned to social media for the first time since lambasting the "powers that be" that have continually banned his drink adverts.

The award-winning comic took to X over the weekend, where he unleashed an expletive-laden rant against those putting a stop to Dutch Barn billboards being erected in London.


The comedian, who is well-known for his provocative humour, regularly shares his banned adverts with his fans on social media, with many of them involving rather contentious jokes.

For instance, Mr Gervais attempted to have one billboard used on the London Underground which encouraged visitors not to forget their "stab vests".

Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais is no stranger to controversy with his humour |

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In another supposedly banned ad, Mr Gervais urged travellers to "enjoy life" because they would be "dead soon".

Both ads and several others were allegedly rejected by the advertising bodies that grant permissions on TfL [Transport for London], which resulted in Mr Gervais sharing a two-minute-long video ridiculing the ruling.

After the video went viral, with over a million views in a matter of hours, Mr Gervais returned to X to react to the overwhelming support.

"Thanks for watching my shows, coming to my gigs, & buying my vodka," Mr Gervais penned alongside a snap of a bottle of Dutch Barn vodka and a donkey, given the company's fundraising alliance with Save the Donkeys.

Ricky Gervais

Ricky Gervais called those behind the ban 'cowardly f***ing c***s'

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X

He continued: "And thanks even more for supporting all the animal welfare stuff I bother you with. You are lovely people."

His latest social media post was a lot more reserved than the initial rant, which hit headlines across the globe.

"I am f***ing sick and tired of the powers that be banning my f***ing billboards and adverts for Dutch Barn. Sometimes there's just nothing wrong with them," the Derek star said on Sunday.

He continued: "One that was meant for the tube station, just had me having a drink, and it just said, 'One day, you'll be underground for good.' That was it.

"They went, 'No, can't have that, because it might make people think, because life's short, we should drink to excess.' Who's f***ing thinking that? Oh, my God. Cowardly, f***ing c***s."

As he sniggered, Mr Gervais asked: "Do you think it's my attitude?"

He went on: "Oh, but you can't win, because, well, you're not allowed to say alcohol's good for you, it does this, you feel confident, or it makes you feel attractive, which is fine. I went the other way.

"There was one advert, I was reading from my laptop, from government websites, just saying about all the dangers of alcohol. They went, 'No, we don't don't like that.' Do you know why? Because they don't like the truth, either, because that puts off other advertisers.

Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais is not happy with the 'powers that be' over his advert ban | PA

"F*** me, honestly. So this is what we're gonna do, f*** 'em, okay? I'm gonna sell directly to you. Go to the website, sign up for our mailing list as well, and you can win a year's supply of Dutch Barn.

"Also, we save donkeys. So save donkeys, f*** censors, Dutch Barn," The Office star signed off.

Since his outburst, TfL has addressed the claims that it was the organisation that banned the Dutch Barn campaigns.

In a statement to Metro, a spokesperson said: "These adverts were never referred to TfL or their advertising partners for consideration. Alternative creatives for Dutch Barn have been accepted and are running on our network."