Ricky Gervais clarified his recent misunderstood comments about cancel culture and how it might have affected his hit show, “The Office.”
“I mean now it would be canceled. I’m looking forward to when they pick out one thing and try to cancel it,” the 60-year old actor said in a BBC interview. “Someone said they might try to cancel it one day, and I say, ‘Good, let them cancel it. I’ve been paid!'”
Gervais played David Brent, the starved for attention and wildly inappropriate manager of a paper company’s local branch in the original British version of “The Office.” He also co-created, wrote, and directed the show.
Some people took the British comedian’s comment to mean that “The Office” would be “canceled” if it were made today, but Gervais soon tweeted a clarification.
Just to be clear, I did not say The Office would be cancelled if it were made today. That makes no sense. It’s still around. This is my actual quote. “Someone said they might try to cancel it one day, and I said, ‘Good, let them cancel it. I’ve been paid!'” Clearly a joke.
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) July 9, 2021
“Just to be clear, I did not say The Office would be cancelled if it were made today. That makes no sense. It’s still around,” he said. “This is my actual quote. ‘Someone said they might try to cancel it one day, and I said, ‘Good, let them cancel it. I’ve been paid!'” he wrote.
“Clearly a joke,” he explained.
One follower responded, still not getting that he was making a joke, to suggest that if it were made today, they would only get to episode two before hitting the brakes on the series.
I think if the U.S. version began today, they would get to episode 02 “Diversity Day” where Michael says “try my cookie, cookie (or googie, googie?)” to Kelly and that would be the end of the show! pic.twitter.com/gnrFuZuURU
— Chris Edward (@IAMChrisEdward) July 9, 2021
Others pointed out how well-loved the show is, even by the younger generation that seems to be quick to judge and cancel things they disagree with, showing that when people relax and have fun, it’s ok to laugh instead of being offended.
Funny, because in this entire thread of 1000+ replies all about the idea of cancelling The Office, I have yet to encounter a single person who actually wants to cancel The Office.
— Cameron (@itscfox) July 9, 2021
It’s funny that people say this because the show is literally loved by a lot of the younger generations
— D (@king_blackthorn) July 9, 2021
Reminds me of something Mark Twain said: pic.twitter.com/TiJ2N0LDpc
— Ahmed Anssaien (@AhmedNSane) July 9, 2021
While the British version of the show had a short 14-episode run, the U.S. version was a nine-season hit that ran from 2005 to 2013. In 2004, the show received a Golden Globe for best comedy or musical television series.
Gervais has been outspoken in denouncing cancel culture. The comedian likened it to a “new weird sort of fascism” where even slightly conservative people are treated like Adolf Hitler.
But he continues to forge ahead and find humor where others might not.
On Friday, he quipped to his followers on Twitter, “Be happy. It really annoys negative people.”
His tweet was accompanied by a photo of himself that read, “Please stop saying ‘you can’t joke about anything anymore.’ You can. You can joke about whatever the F*ck you like. And some people won’t like it and they will tell you they don’t like it. And then it’s up to you whether you give a f*ck or not. And so on. It’s a good system.”
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