Ricky Gervais Back At It Again with Opening Golden Globes Monologue, Controversy Abounds

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Many were expecting it. After all, this was the fifth and 'final' time that comedian and actor Ricky Gervais would be hosting the annual Golden Globes award ceremony. But even when it's to be suspected, Gervais has the uncanny ability to make people cringe at the angles he pursues in his jokes.

Gervais joked several times that this would be his last time hosting the Globes. Who really knows, though. If it was the last time that he would be behind the podium, he certainly didn't hold anything back. Amongst the topics of his opening monologue and subsequent lines were the likes of James Corden, Felicity Huffman, Jeffrey Epstein, and the Hollywood elite, among others.

Perhaps one of the biggest slights the comedian put out during the opening monologue related to companies like Apple creating their own streaming service. For Gervais, he didn't believe that the company and the people that made the show, whether that's actors and actresses, producers, or directors, should really say anything to lecture people.

The basis for his comments dealt with the fact that Gervais claimed Apple was having people work in sweatshops to make their products and it would be hypocritical for them to lecture any of the people in the room or in the world watching about politics and policy. He even managed to pepper in a jab at Greta Thunberg.

"So if you do win an award tonight, don't use it as a political platform to make a political speech. You're in no position to lecture the public about anything, you know nothing about the real world. Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg. So, if you win, come up, accept your little award, thank your agent and your God and f— off. OK," he said.

Oh, and did we mention that Apple CEO, Tim Cook, just happen to be conveniently there?

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The college admission scandal that took place was also not immune to Gervais' jokes, as he took full aim. The two most well-known individuals that were charged with bribery and mail fraud included Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin.

Huffman decided to enter a plea deal and thus served 14 days in prison. Loughlin, on the other hand, has decided to try and fight the charges by going to court. Gervais connected the dots with prisoners and the production of license plates.

"I came here in a limo tonight and the license plate was made by Felicity Huffman," he said. "It’s her daughter I feel sorry for. That must be the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to her. And her dad was in Wild Hogs."

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A quick pan around the room and one could tell the unrest during Gervais' lines as they knew deep down that no one was off-limits for the jokes. In between them, awkward laughs were prevalent, as if each person there was told they had to. Unfortunately for them, he grouped the whole room into a joke about the people of Hollywood and their affiliation with not only Jeffrey Epstein, but also Harvey Weinstein.

Gervais first joked about Netflix and how they essentially have already cleaned up the awards for the night and then, somehow related that to Epstein, in a dark, but genius manner.

"Well done, Netflix, you win everything," the comedian said. "Good night.’ But no, we gotta drag it out for three hours. You could binge-watch the entire first season of Afterlife instead of watching this show. That’s a show about a man who wants to kill himself because his wife dies of cancer and it’s still more fun than this, okay? Spoiler alert: Season 2 is on the way, so obviously he didn’t kill himself — just like Jeffrey Epstein. [Audience groans]. Shut up, I know he’s your friend, but I don’t care."

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Out of all the direct attacks, James Corden and Judi Dench, stars in the blockbuster flop, Cats, might have had the worst. He went straight after them, not holding any punches back.

"The world got to see James Corden as a fat p----. He was also in the movie Cats but no one saw that. And the reviews, shocking. I saw one that said this is the worst thing to happen to cats since dogs. But Dame Judi Dench defended the film by saying it was the role she was born to play because she…I can’t do this next joke…because she loves nothing better than plunking herself down on the carpet, lifting her leg, and licking her [bleep]. Furball. Furball. She’s old school. It’s the last time, who cares."

Gervais certainly went out with a bang, if this was, in fact, his last opportunity to host the Golden Globes, but we'll have to wait and see as this time nears in 2021. If he's signed back on board for a sixth time hosting the awards show, you can bet more of the same from the unapologetic comedian.