Ricky Gervais jokes about Foster's sexuality
Ricky Gervais The English comedian – who was heavily criticised after insulting numerous celebrities among the audience when hosting last year’s awards – began the show by listing the many areas he had been banned from talking about at the 69th staging of the awards by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), producers and executives from American television network NBC.
However, he then alluded to The Silence of the Lambs star’s sexual preferences with a vulgar joke.
The 50-year-old – who hit the big time after co-writing and starring in BBC Television sitcoms The Office and Extras – said: “The Hollywood Foreign Press have warned me that if I insult you or cause any controversy, they would invite me back next year.
“[They gave me] a list of rules, and this is real. No profanity. That’s fine. I’ve got a huge vocabulary.
“No nudity. See, that’s a shame because I’ve got a huge...vocabulary, but tiny penis. It works. I don’t care. It’s fine.
“No smut or innuendo. Or I’m not to libel anyone. And I must not mention Mel Gibson this year. Not his private life, his politics, his recent films or especially not Jodie Foster’s Beaver.
“I haven’t seen it myself. I’ve spoken to a lot of guys – they haven’t seen it either, but that doesn’t mean it’s not good.”
However, 49-year-old Foster seemed happy to be the butt of Gervais’ joke, even giving the comedian a thumbs-up before then clapping enthusiastically.
But Madonna – who directed drama-romance W.E. – found his humour too much to stomach.
Gervais had joked: “Our next presenter is the Queen of Pop. No, not you Elton. She’s all woman. She’s always vogue, she’s a material girl and she’s just like a virgin. Please welcome Madonna.”
The 53-year-old pop star responded with: “If I’m still a virgin, Ricky, then why don’t you come on do something about it? I haven’t kissed a girl in a few years. On TV.”
Gervais also took a pot shot at teenage pop star Justin Bieber, questioning why he had even been the subject of a paternity rumour.
A fan of the Never Say Never hitmaker had accused Bieber of being the father of her child, but Gervais said: “Justin Bieber nearly had to take a paternity test. What a waste of a test that would have been.
