Presenter Ricky Gervais was the talk of the Golden Globe Awards last night with his jokes about Scientologists, gays and some of the actors present at the ceremony cutting close to the bone.
Gervais was hosting the Golden Globed for the second year running but although people were braced for some cutting quips, not everyone was impressed and a disgruntled Robert Downey, Jr called the comedian “mean spirited”.
In first place on the shock-horror scale was Gervais’s dig at Scientology, which led to an audible intake of breath from the audience.
“I Love You Phillip Morris stars Jim Carey and Ewan McGregor, two heterosexual actors pretending to be gay. So, the complete opposite of some famous scientologists? Probably,” Gervais said. “My lawyers helped me with the wording of that joke.”
Big winners at the Golden Globes 2011
Charlie Sheen’s much-publicised partying also came under fire.
“It’s going to be a night of partying and heavy drinking,” Gervais deadpanned. “Or, as Charlie Sheen calls it, breakfast.”
Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp’s move The Tourist was dismissed with: “I haven’t even seen The Tourist. Who has?”
And Cher got similar treatment as Gervais asked the Golden Globe audience if they’d seen her perform recently. “No. Why not? Because it’s not 1975,” he said.
Not everyone found Gervais funny though. Robert Downey, Jr, was introduced to the stage with the following:
“He’s the star of Iron Man, Two Girls and a Guy, Wonder Boys. Sorry, are these porn films? Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Bowfinger. Really! Up the Academy,” Ricky said. “He has done all those films, but many of you in this room probably know [Robert Downey Jr.] from such facilities as the Betty Ford Clinic and Los Angeles County Jail.”
Unimpressed, Downey, Jr retorted: “Aside from the fact that it’s been hugely mean-spirited, with mildly sinister undertones, I’d say the vibe of the show is pretty good so far, wouldn’t you?”
Did you watch Ricky Gervais presenting the Golden Globes? Did you laugh?
Ricky Gervais Golden Globes 2011: Opening monologue
Ricky Gervais Golden Globes 2011: Funniest jokes
