Ricky Gervais Trolled Online After Calling Himself 'Middle-Aged'
Ricky Gervais has a new Netflix standup special premiering on Christmas Day titled Armageddon, which has already largely been panned by critics for having "smug, macho," jokes more suited for the playground than a comedy stage. But while promoting the upcoming special, Gervais got dragged for an entirely different reason, in that he referred to himself as "middle aged."
"Happy Birthday, Jesus!" the outspoken atheist posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday, along with the official Armageddon poster.
Happy Birthday, Jesus! pic.twitter.com/cAQbG4A0oS
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) November 20, 2023
Shortly after, a fan popped into his mentions to ask whether the special would be "suitable to watch with Nan and Gramp on Christmas Day," to which Gervais had the following response. "Depends. Do they enjoy watching a [middle-aged] man swearing, joking about the holocaust and pretending to wank off a paedophile?" he asked.
Depends. Do they enjoy watching a middle age man swearing, joking about the holocaust and pretending to wank off a paedophile?
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) November 20, 2023
Given that Gervais turned 62 back in June, describing himself as "middle aged" seems generous, to say the least. And it didn't take long for users of the platform to pile on and remind the British comic as much.
"Middle aged?" one fan succinctly commented, in a reply that's since been liked over 600 times. "Oh boy you’ve repressed a lot of emotions. 62 ain’t middle aged buddy," pointed out another user. Others were even more savage, reacting with laughing emojis or writing that Gervais is "four years off picking up your state pension smdh" and so on.
Middle aged????????????????l
— M. (@ItsLikeMichael) November 21, 2023
four years off picking up your state pension smdh
— Ruairidh Pritchard (@RooPritchard) November 21, 2023
You’ve got exactly 8 years of life left pal
— Marxist Gasparist (@H4MMARSKJ0LD) November 21, 2023
You’ve got exactly 8 years of life left pal
— Marxist Gasparist (@H4MMARSKJ0LD) November 21, 2023
You’re an old man, Ricky.
— Genius Of Lunch (@ConorHaloReach) November 21, 2023
Some people wondered how long Gervais was planning to live, if taking the term "middle aged" at literal face value.
Planning on living to 124 years old are we Ricky ????
— mt k (@Leonardoisred) November 21, 2023
Middle aged? You gonna live to 120?
— Morgan Leggett (@YouBettaLeggett) November 21, 2023
For what it's worth, though the exact age range is subject to debate, middle age is typically considered from anywhere from 40 to 60 to 45 to 65. So, he's either on the tail end or not far off, depending on what you believe. In either case, while Gervais hasn't personally responded to the trolls, one would have to think that he can take it as much as he can dish it out, given his brash style of comedy.