Ashley Cain and many others have criticised Ricky Gervais for his joke about dying children.
Watch below:
The comedian took to social media on Wednesday (29 November) to promote his upcoming Netflix special Armageddon.
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Many were outraged after Gervais shared a snippet of his 'Make a Wish' joke, in which he said: "I’ve been doing a lot of video messages recently for terminally ill children.
"Only if they request it, obviously. I don’t burst into hospitals and go, 'Wake up baldy'.”
He continued: "I did a lot through the pandemic, presumably because they couldn’t even see their own families.
"It was through Make a Wish Foundation. They’re great.
"And they give these dying kids their one wish.
"And if it’s me, I always say yes. And I always start the video the same way. I go, 'Why don’t you wish to get better?'."
The Ex on the Beach star - whose daughter Azaylia died from cancer in 2021 aged eight months - commented on the skit, writing: "I was actually a fan of Ricky Gervais but after watching his stand up with my family and hearing multiple jokes about terminally ill children and especially kids with cancer I had to turn it off.
"Some things are not funny, especially to those parents that are left behind.
"You can get cancelled in this world for so much, yet making a mockery of dying children is ok? I'm so mad at this!"
Another viewer agreed with Cain's sentiments, adding: "This is extremely disheartening. How could you joke about dying children.
"One of those 'baldies' was my baby. Suffered & died before the age of six. And some how you find it comical. You are what’s wrong with this world.
"Taking something so tragic & then try to make 'light' of it & then have to justify how 'it’s only an act'. You’re the joke of this whole thing. A true piece of work."
"No. IT IS NOT A JOKE. My daughter is a Baldy fighting Cancer," a third person wrote.
"I don't find this funny. People, learn.. some lines should never be crossed. You don't want to make jokes on terminally ill children. NO."
Meanwhile, others saw it as a joke and nothing else.
One commented: "So for everyone getting offended -just keep scrolling. You have the ability to block Ricky and never watch his content again. He does so much for charities. He donates millions.
"He is such a decent person, he acts like he’s a meanie. I highly recommend 'After Life' it’s one of the most beautiful series I’ve ever seen!!"
"When a comedian needs to explain that he is joking... the world sucks right now. You are doing great, Ricky," someone else wrote.
LADbible has contacted a representative of Ricky Gervais for comment.
Topics: Celebrity, Ricky Gervais, Netflix
Anish Vij