Ricky Gervais compares cancel culture to 'road rage’

Sky News Australia

8 Dec 202003:05

Summary

TLDRIn a recent podcast interview, comedian Ricky Gervais discusses the dangers of cancel culture, particularly its impact on free speech and comedy. He expresses concern over how a single misstep can lead to being removed from platforms like Netflix. While Gervais supports the public holding people accountable, he criticizes cancel culture for encouraging bullying and silencing voices. He compares it to 'road rage,' emphasizing that everyone, whether a genius or an idiot, has equal access to platforms like Twitter, which can blur the line between fact and opinion.

Takeaways

😟 Cancel culture is scary because saying the wrong thing can lead to being removed from platforms like Netflix.
🤔 It's hard to predict what will be offensive in the future, and people can get canceled for things said many years ago.
🔍 Cancel culture isn't about saying anything without consequences; people are allowed to criticize and boycott you.
❌ The problem with cancel culture is when people bully others into not supporting a person or work.
🗣️ Ricky Gervais sees cancel culture as a form of societal road rage, where reactions happen too quickly to be reconsidered.
📢 The internet, especially platforms like Twitter, gives equal volume to both geniuses and idiots, making it hard to distinguish between them.
⚖️ Being offended doesn’t mean you are right, but today, people often treat opinions as equal to facts.
📊 Gervais criticizes the idea that opinions are being valued more than facts, leading to people being offended by truths.
🎤 People want to feel heard and important, which is why some heckle comedians or use social media to make their voices equal to others.
🛑 Gervais questions who has the power to cancel him, noting that if all platforms shut him down, he'd still find a way to speak, like standing on a bench in a park.

Q & A

What is the main concern Ricky Gervais expresses about 'cancel culture' in this transcript?
-Ricky Gervais is concerned about the unpredictability of cancel culture and how people can be canceled for saying something that might be deemed offensive, even if it was acceptable at the time. He highlights how this could impact livelihoods, such as being removed from platforms like Netflix.
How does Ricky Gervais describe the potential dangers of cancel culture for comedians?
-Gervais explains that comedians can be canceled for things they said years ago, without knowing how societal standards may evolve. He believes it's difficult to navigate comedy in such an environment where the consequences can be severe.
According to Ricky Gervais, what is the difference between being held accountable and being canceled?
-Gervais argues that people are allowed to criticize, boycott, and stop supporting a comedian or public figure, but they should not bully others into doing the same. He believes in accountability through individual choice rather than mob-driven shaming.
What comparison does Ricky Gervais make to describe cancel culture?
-He compares cancel culture to 'road rage,' where reactions happen too quickly, and people dig into their positions without the ability to take things back, leading to harmful consequences.
How does Ricky Gervais relate the idea of 'being heard' to heckling or cancel culture?
-Gervais suggests that people engage in heckling or cancel culture because they want to feel like they have an impact or were present in the moment. It's a way for them to feel important or heard.
What does Gervais say about the 'equal access' to platforms like Twitter?
-He notes that on platforms like Twitter, both an 'idiot' and a 'genius' have the same platform and reach. He finds it dangerous because people no longer distinguish between the credibility or quality of opinions shared.
What observation does Ricky Gervais make about the relationship between opinions and facts?
-Gervais observes that while everyone's opinion may be valid, there's been a shift where people are equating their opinions with facts, and he believes that this is simply not true. Now, he says, people can even be offended by facts.
How does Ricky Gervais address the question of who can 'cancel' him?
-Gervais questions the power of cancel culture by asking who exactly would cancel him—whether it's platforms like Twitter or YouTube. He jokes that if needed, he would resort to standing on a bench in Hyde Park to share his views.
What does Gervais believe motivates people in cancel culture to act aggressively?
-He believes that people want to feel like they have a voice and an effect on the world, which can lead to aggressive behavior in cancel culture, as they seek validation and recognition.
How does Gervais describe the current societal response to offense?
-He emphasizes that just because someone is offended doesn’t mean they are right. He suggests that in recent years, offense has been elevated to a level where people believe it justifies invalidating facts or opinions they disagree with.

Outlines

00:00

😨 The Fear of Being Cancelled

The speaker discusses the anxiety around cancel culture, particularly the fear of saying something wrong and facing severe consequences, such as being removed from platforms like Netflix. They express the difficulty in predicting what might be considered offensive in the future, making it nearly impossible to fully safeguard oneself from potential cancellation. This unpredictability creates a tense environment for public figures, especially those in comedy, as standards shift over time.

🤔 Misunderstandings of Cancel Culture

There is a misconception that cancel culture allows people to say whatever they want without facing consequences. The speaker argues that while people are free to criticize or boycott, they shouldn't bully others into participating. Cancel culture is often seen as an extreme response to public figures’ actions, and this power dynamic can have significant effects on livelihoods, especially in the entertainment industry.

🎙️ Ricky Gervais on Cancel Culture

Ricky Gervais, the well-known comedian, speaks out against cancel culture, particularly how it impacts the world of comedy. On the 'SmartLess' podcast, Gervais emphasizes how dangerous cancel culture can be, as it has the power to ruin people's careers and limit their creative freedom. He acknowledges that while public accountability is important, cancel culture often crosses the line, turning into a form of road rage where actions escalate too quickly to be undone.

💵 Accountability vs. Shaming

Gervais elaborates on the concept of accountability, explaining that the best way to hold a public figure responsible is through economic choices, such as not supporting their work. He criticizes the practice of pressuring others to follow suit, likening it to a destructive form of cancel culture that alienates people and escalates conflicts unnecessarily. In his view, cancel culture is driven by impulsive, emotionally charged reactions that can be difficult to reverse.

📢 The Power of Public Platforms

The discussion turns to the power dynamics on social media, where everyone has an equal voice regardless of their level of expertise or intelligence. Gervais highlights how this can blur the line between genuine criticism and uninformed opinions. He observes that on platforms like Twitter, an 'idiot' and a 'genius' are given the same platform, which can create confusion and amplify irrelevant voices. This has contributed to the dangerous environment where offense is equated with moral superiority.

🧐 Opinion vs. Fact

Gervais remarks on a worrying trend where people equate their opinions with facts. He criticizes the mindset that 'my opinion is worth as much as your fact,' stressing that this is simply not true. The rise of this mentality has led to a situation where facts can now offend people, and in turn, lead to their rejection, making rational discourse more difficult.

📣 Defying Cancel Culture

In a more existential reflection, Gervais asks, 'What is being cancelled?' and questions who has the authority to cancel him. He affirms that even if Twitter or YouTube tries to silence him, he would find alternative ways to express himself, such as standing on a bench in Hyde Park to share his message. This statement underscores his belief in the importance of free speech, even in the face of widespread societal backlash.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cancel Culture

Cancel culture refers to the practice of withdrawing support from public figures or companies after they have done or said something considered objectionable or offensive. In the video, it is discussed as a phenomenon that can have a drastic impact on a person's career, particularly in entertainment, where one wrong statement can lead to removal from platforms like Netflix. The speaker expresses concern over how quickly things can change and the long-term effects of this culture.

💡Comedy

Comedy is a form of entertainment meant to provoke laughter, often by addressing controversial or sensitive topics. In the video, the speaker, a comedian, highlights the challenges of performing comedy in a world where cancel culture is prominent. He finds it difficult to balance humor with the risk of offending people, which could lead to being 'canceled.'

💡Accountability

Accountability is the concept of being held responsible for one's actions, particularly in a public or societal context. The speaker emphasizes that while people should be accountable for their words and actions, accountability should come in the form of individuals choosing not to support a person or product, rather than coercing others to do the same. This distinction is central to his criticism of cancel culture.

💡Censorship

Censorship involves suppressing speech, public communication, or other information deemed offensive or harmful. The speaker fears that cancel culture acts as a form of modern censorship, where comedians or public figures risk losing their platform for saying something controversial, even if that content was acceptable in the past. This limits creative freedom, particularly in comedy.

💡Public Opinion

Public opinion is the collective view of a group of people on certain topics or individuals. In the video, the speaker suggests that public opinion has shifted from valuing both opinions and facts to treating opinions as equivalent to facts. This trend makes it difficult for individuals to navigate what is acceptable, especially as norms evolve over time.

💡Consequences

Consequences refer to the outcomes or effects of a particular action or decision. The speaker mentions that people should face consequences for their actions, but he distinguishes between personal responsibility and collective punishment. The idea of consequences is key in the discussion of cancel culture, where the speaker worries about disproportionate penalties like losing one's platform.

💡Freedom of Speech

Freedom of speech is the right to express one's opinions without censorship or restraint. The speaker argues that while people have the right to speak freely, this does not exempt them from the repercussions of their speech in a society. He also notes that freedom of speech can be threatened by cancel culture, where unpopular opinions may lead to social or professional isolation.

💡Road Rage

Road rage is used metaphorically in the video to describe the swift, impulsive, and often aggressive reactions people have to controversial statements or behaviors. The speaker compares cancel culture to road rage, noting that reactions happen so quickly and intensely that they cannot be taken back, often leading to long-lasting consequences for the person targeted.

💡Social Media

Social media platforms like Twitter and YouTube are discussed as amplifiers of both genius and idiocy. The speaker notes that on social media, everyone has equal access to a platform, making it difficult to distinguish between well-informed opinions and uninformed ones. This democratization of voice contributes to cancel culture, where individuals can be judged harshly and quickly.

💡Offense

Offense refers to the feeling of being insulted or morally outraged by something someone else says or does. The speaker argues that just because someone is offended does not mean they are necessarily right. This concept is central to the tension in cancel culture, where what offends one group might not offend another, leading to differing views on what deserves cancellation.

Highlights

Ricky Gervais discusses the fear of being canceled if one says the wrong thing, citing Netflix as an example.

Gervais raises the issue of not knowing how future societal standards may impact past content.

He highlights the challenge for comedians, who may be politically correct now but could face consequences years later for past statements.

The comedian emphasizes that cancel culture is not about saying anything without consequences, but about being criticized fairly.

Gervais supports the public holding people accountable through choices like not buying products, rather than shaming others.

He compares cancel culture to 'road rage'—a quick and impulsive reaction that people cannot take back.

The comedian remarks that everyone now has equal access to a platform like Twitter, where the distinction between genius and ignorance is blurred.

He points out the shift from 'my opinion is worth as much as yours' to 'my opinion is worth as much as your fact.'

Gervais observes that in recent years, people have started to get offended by facts.

He argues that being offended does not necessarily make someone right.

Gervais questions the concept of being canceled, asking who has the power to cancel him—Twitter or YouTube?

He mentions that if it came to that, he would still speak out, even if it meant standing on a bench in Hyde Park.

Gervais discusses the negative consequences of cancel culture on livelihoods, especially in the entertainment industry.

He describes how cancel culture's rapid pace leads to impulsive reactions, making it difficult to reflect or take things back.

Gervais links cancel culture to a broader societal issue, where people feel the need to have an impact and be heard, similar to hecklers at a comedy show.