Wanda Sykes takes dig at Ricky Gervais at Golden Globes as she thanks trans community on his behalf
“Because he would like to thank God... and the trans community," said Sykes
By Aaron Sugg
Wanda Sykes took a dig at comedian Ricky Gervais while presenting and accepting his Golden Globe on behalf of the Best Stand-Up Comedy Performance winner, using the moment to thank the trans community.
Gervais was honoured last night (11 January) at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards for his comedy show Mortality, but was unable to attend due to distance from the UK.
Accepting the award on his behalf, Sykes used the opportunity to criticise Gervais’s insensitive transgender jokes, as well as his recent comments about having no regrets over telling them despite backlash.
“He would like to thank God… and the trans community” – Wanda Sykes accepting Ricky Gervais’s Golden Globe
Presenting the award, she said: “Because he would like to thank God,” pointing out the honourees’s atheism, before adding: “And the trans community.”
Sykes’s comments come after Gervais pushed back against criticism of his comedy, including jokes about transgender people, stating: “I think I’m right.”
In 2022, Gervais’s Netflix stand-up special SuperNature received backlash after he joked about “old-fashioned women”, saying: “They’re the ones with wombs.”
Mocking trans women, the comedian added: “I love the new women. They’re great, aren’t they? The new ones we’ve been seeing lately. The ones with beards and cocks.”
“It takes a lot to get me off the couch with my cat and my girlfriend” – Gervais reveals why he will not be attending the 2026 Golden Globes
Speaking on BBC This Cultural Life, Gervais said: “I didn’t have any joy watching my fat face on screen,” referring to his Golden Globe nomination.
He added: “I’m probably not going to the Golden Globes… It’s too far to go. It takes a lot to get me off the couch with my cat and my girlfriend watching Netflix. I love the work, I love writing, I love creating, I love stand-up, but all the other stuff I could really do without.”
This is what the end of woke sounds like.
— ThisIsntWorkingPodcast (@IsntWorkingPod) January 3, 2026
In a new BBC interview, Ricky Gervais doubles down on his jokes about transgenderism, fat shaming and disability, and then laughs with the confidence of a man who knows his audience gets it – and the BBC interviewer doesn't.
Link ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/cj6QrvfJcl
Sykes has repeatedly shown her allyship with the trans community, often criticising the comedy circuit for insensitive jokes targeting marginalised groups.
“They have my support, 100%” – Sykes showing her support for the trans community
Speaking to Variety in 2023, the 61-year-old comedian criticised Dave Chappelle for his trans material, drawing attention to the comedian’s 2021 Netflix special.
“I think what he said was so hurtful and damaging to the trans community,” she said. “I’m not trans, but they have my support, 100%.”
In The Closer, Chappelle voiced support for anti-trans author JK Rowling, saying: “They cancelled JK Rowling – my God. Essentially, she said gender was fact. The trans community got mad, they started calling her a TERF… I’m team TERF.”
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