Ricky Gervais’s much-anticipated return as host of the Golden Globes involved jokes about Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein and Hollywood hypocrisy.
The acerbic comedian also squeezed in a lewd comment about Cats star Dame Judi Dench as he presented the ceremony for a fifth time.
Ricky Gervais lived up to his reputation for controversy as he hosted the Golden Globes for a fifth time (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Here are the highlights:
On ‘paedophile movies’
“It was big year for paedophile movies. Surviving R Kelly, Leaving Neverland, (The) Two Popes.”
On Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood’s near three-hour run time
“Leonardo DiCaprio attended the premiere and by the end, his date was too old for him.”
Gervais added: “Even Prince Andrew is like, ‘Come on Leo, mate. You’re nearly 50.'”
READ MORE: Ricky Gervais savages guests in Golden Globes monologue
On Hollywood hypocrisy
“Apple roared into the TV game with The Morning Show, a superb drama about the importance of dignity and doing the right thing – made by a company that runs sweatshops in China.
“You say you’re woke, but the companies you work for, I mean, unbelievable: Apple, Amazon, Disney. If ISIS started a streaming service, you’d call your agent, wouldn’t you? So if you do win an award tonight, don’t use it as a platform to make a political speech, right?
“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.”
On Jeffrey Epstein
“You can binge watch the entire first season of Afterlife. That’s a show about a man who wants to kill himself after his wife dies of cancer. It has a second season though, so he obviously doesn’t kill himself in the end – just like Jeffrey Epstein. (To the audience) Shut up, I don’t care. I know he was your friend.”
On James Corden, star of box office flop Cats
“The world got to see James Corden as a fat pussy. He was also in the movie Cats, but no one saw that.”
READ MORE: Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Olivia Colman lead raft of Brit wins at Golden Globes
On Cats star Dame Judi Dench
“Dame Judi Dench defended the film, 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 plonking herself down on the carpet, lifting her leg, and licking her minge.”
On the journalist who helped break the #MeToo scandal
“In this room are some of the most important TV and film executives in the world, from all different backgrounds. But they all have one thing in common -they’re all terrified of Ronan Farrow. He’s coming for you!”
On jailed actress Felicity Huffman
“I came here in a limo tonight, and the license plate was made by Felicity Huffman. It’s her daughter I feel sorry for. That must be the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to her, and her dad was in Wild Hogs.”
On Harvey Weinstein
“Our next presenter starred in Netflix’s Bird Box, a movie where people survive by acting like they don’t see a thing. Sort of like working for Harvey Weinstein.”
Responding to groans from the audience, Gervais added: “You did it! I didn’t, you did it!”
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