14 DAY TRIAL // The backlash has begun: British comedian Ricky Gervais will soon be paying for the dirty and “mean” (for some) jokes at Sunday’s Golden Globes 2011, with Hollywood Foreign Press Association boss, Philip Berk, saying the line has been crossed.
In an interview taken after the show, where Gervais managed to get everyone talking because of the speeches and the jokes he made, cited by PopEater, Berk says the comedian went too far.
Of course, rumor has it, Berk’s biggest problem is perhaps that he too was targeted in Gervais’ opening monologue, when he claimed that the HFPA was bribed into giving “Burlesque” a nomination with tickets for one of Cher’s Las Vegas concerts.
Either way, Berk is not happy with how things turned out and, while he’s not saying it, it’s clear that Gervais won’t ever be asked to come back and host another show.
“He definitely crossed the line. And some of the things were totally unacceptable. But that’s Ricky. Any of the references to individuals is certainly not something the Hollywood Foreign Press condones,” Berk says.
An insider confirms for PopEater that, with Sunday’s jokes, Gervais literally killed his chances in Hollywood.
“Ricky will not be invited back to host the show next year, for sure. For sure any movie he makes he can forget about getting nominated. He humiliated the organization last night and went too far with several celebrities whose representatives have already called to complain,” says an unnamed member of the HFPA.
As for the comedian himself, he insists there was no harm done and that it was all in good fun. Moreover, he promises that all the stars he targeted in his jokes were well chosen on considerations like their sense of humor and whether they’d take offense with them.
“Everyone took it well and the atmosphere backstage and at the after show was great. […] I was allowed to choose who I would introduce in advance. I obviously chose presenters who I had the best jokes for. (And who I knew had a good sense of humor.)” Gervais tells The Hollywood Reporter.
Still, he’s not deceiving himself about the prospect of ever hosting the Globes again. “I probably won’t be here next year,” he says.
Below is a video of Ricky Gervais’ opening monologue at the Golden Globes 2011. Check it out now if you haven’t had the chance to do so yet.