Nigel Farage was left baffled after a guest drew comparisons between Ricky Gervais’ transgender jokes and controversial politician Enoch Powell.
Gervais' new Netflix special SuperNature has been slammed for comments made about trans people, while he also takes aim at “cancel culture” and “woke comedy”.
He kicked off the show by telling his audience it isn't really a show, but is "basically a bloke talking" – using the opportunity to try and fail to recall any "female comedians".
Mr Gervais also said that “old-fashioned women” were “the ones with wombs".
He added: “And now the old-fashioned ones say, ‘Oh, they want to use our toilets’.
“Why shouldn't they use your toilets? For ladies! They are ladies, look at their pronouns! What about this person isn't a lady? Well, his penis.
“Her penis, you f***ing bigot!”
Ricky Gervais has been slammed comments in his new show
Matt Crossick
The comedian quickly pointed out that he doesn't harbour any sexist attitudes and that the show will be laden with irony.
But human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has described Mr Gervais’ comments as “disappointing”.
And, appearing on GB News, he even drew comparisons between the comedian and Mr Powell –infamous for the 'Rivers of Blood' speech he made 1968.
In conversation with Nigel Farage, Mr Tatchell said: “I am a great fan of Ricky Gervais, 99 percent of the stuff he does.
"I think he’s a brilliant comedian.
“But I do find it disappointing that he chooses to go for vulnerable people like the trans community.
“They are already getting enough stick without being mocked and ridiculed in comedy routines.
“I know he did caveat his performance by saying that he totally supports trans rights and that he’s just making a joke, it’s not meant to be taken seriously, it doesn’t reflect his point of view.
“But nevertheless it does feed into the current toxic atmosphere about trans issues.
"And I'm just going to draw a comparison. Can you imagine how you would feel if, at the height of Enoch Powell’s Rivers of Blood speech, comedians made racist jokes?
“I don’t think we’d just dismiss it as just a joke, so I feel very uncomfortable about it.”
But a a baffled Nigel responded to Mr Tatchell’s comments by saying: “Peter, back in 1968, which is the speech you refer to, there were all sorts of jokes being told.
“There were almost no limits on the jokes people could tell and I have no doubt that some people found them offensive, and some found them funny.”
Nigel Farage in discussion with Peter Tatchell
GB News
