Overview
- Ricky Gervais won Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television for his Netflix special Mortality, but he did not attend the Beverly Hilton ceremony.
- Wanda Sykes accepted on his behalf and said he would like to thank God and the trans community, a pointed reference to his atheism and criticism over trans jokes in 2022’s SuperNature.
- The moment drew swift, polarized reactions on social media, with praise and backlash reflecting wider divisions over comedy, free expression and perceived harm.
- It is Gervais’ second Golden Globe in the relatively new stand-up category, and all three awards to date have gone to Netflix specials.
- Before announcing the winner, Sykes roasted fellow nominees Bill Maher, Brett Goldstein, Kevin Hart, Kumail Nanjiani and Sarah Silverman; Gervais has not directly addressed her onstage jab.