Award Season Showcases Divisive Comedy

Every winter, dedicated Golden Globes viewers tune into this annual award ceremony that takes place at the Beverly Hills Hilton in January. What changes, though, is the host. This year featured Ricky Gervais, a comedian and writer, for his fifth time hosting the Golden Globes. 

Prestigious and talented actors commemorate one another, and the lucky and deserving few receive a Golden Globe for their role in a movie or television show that aired in the previous year. The ambiance of this event does not align with the tendencies of Ricky Gervais humor. 

Specifically, Gervais opened the event with the statement, “If you do win an award tonight, don’t use it as a platform to make a political speech. You’re in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world.”

Large events, such as the Golden Globes, have become a platform for political statements. For example, at the Grammy’s in 2018 more than 300 famous stars wore a white flower to draw attention to the Time’s Up movement. Additionally, stars have used their acceptance speeches as a platform for political movements. For example, Maggie Gynllehal delivered a very influential speech at the 2015 Golden Globes when she won an award. 

Gervais’ statement flies in the face of this stars who choose to use their speech time for politics. His argument attacks stars who are trying to best utilize their limited, but crucial, minutes viewed by millions. 

What’s more, Gervais’ jokes border and crossed the line of appropriateness. He was bleeped two times. This is not unheard of, but the fact that these inappropriate statements were scripted is unique. 

His lacisidical approach brings an unnecessary amount of mockery to an otherwise very prestigious and important event for Hollywood actors and actresses. Luckily, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey are scheduled to return to host the Golden Globes in 2021. Ideally, they will create a new atmosphere and bring the golden back into the Golden Globes.