Ricky Gervais Explains What He'd Do If A Celebrity Hit Him During A Performance

Ricky Gervais has never been one to shy away from mocking his fellow celebrities – and this time is no different. 

No A-lister was safe from the former Golden Globes host, especially during his final opening speech in 2020, when he bowed out in true Ricky fashion. 

This week, the comedian has been name-dropped a number of times in relation to Sunday’s Oscars incident, and his reactions have certainly not disappointed. 

Yesterday, Gervais was asked by a fan on Twitter: “Decided what you would have done had a celeb smacked you during a performance?” 

Clearly not holding back, he replied: “Smack ‘em back,” before adding: “Unless they’re smaller than you. Then just smile.” 

Smack ‘em back. Unless they’re smaller than you. Then just smile.

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) March 30, 2022

A number of Twitter users responded to his bold claim, with one writing: “Are there many celebs smaller than you?” Ouch! 

Another person added: “I think challenging him to a duel is the proper British thing [to do]?” 

Gervais has weighed-in numerous times on the drama after Sunday’s now-infamous slap. 

Yesterday, it was reported that the 60-year-old would not have made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s alopecia, unlike Chris Rock. 

Instead, he would have taken a jibe at her supposed ‘boyfriend’. 

As per The Mirror, when testing out new material at a recent show in Highgate, north London, Gervais said: “I’ll get it out of the way. I have not got any Will Smith material. I trended when that happened and I was not even there.  

“What has it got to do with me? People were going ‘What would have happened if Ricky Gervais had been [hosting the Oscars]?’ 

“Well, nothing as I would not have made a joke about his wife’s hair. I would have made a joke about her boyfriend.” 

The comedian also shared a clip from The Office where his character, David Brent, discusses alopecia. 

Gervais shared footage from the much-loved series that he famously co-wrote and starred in, captioning it: “And she's got alopecia. So... not a happy homelife [sic]." 

Since the incident, other celebrities have been keen to get involved, evidently eager to pick their side. 

Amy Schumer, another of the evening's hosts, took to Instagram to describe how ‘triggered and traumatised’ she was by Smith’s actions. 

Actor Isla Fisher posted a photo of her husband, Sacha Baron Cohen, with Rock, alongside a love heart.