Ricky Gervais: Golden Globes host draws gasps with Harvey Weinstein joke at 2020 ceremony

‘That was exactly what Hollywood needed to hear’

Ricky Gervais drew gasps with a last-minute joke he made at the Golden Globes about Harvey Weinstein.

The comedian, who immediately shocked with a joke about Leonardo DiCaprio’s 22-year-old girlfriend, Camila Morrone, and Prince Andrew, saved his quip about the disgraced film mogul until the end.

Returning to the stage after a lengthy absence, Gervais said: “Our next presenter starred in Netflix’s Bird Box, a movie where people survive by acting like they don’t see a thing – sort of like working for Harvey Weinstein.”

After hearing gasps from the crowd, filled with numerous people who have worked with the producer, he added: “You did it! I didn’t – you did it!”

While some questioned the timing of the joke considering his trial begins today (6 January), several viewers seemed to appreciate Gervais calling out the many actors and industry insiders who may have turned a blind eye to Weinstein’s alleged behaviour, the exposing of which led to the #MeToo movement.

He will go to trial today (6 January) after being accused of five counts of predatory sexual assault, criminal sex act and rape.

“’That was exactly what Hollywood needed to hear’” one Twitter user wrote, with another adding: “Ricky Gervais telling Hollywood to shut the f*** up for ignoring Harvey Weinstein’s behaviour was gold.”

Another praised him for “dragging Hollywood for its complicity with Harvey Weinstein”, while one tweeter called his comment a “truth bomb”.

Find a roundup of Gervais’ best jokes here.

The ceremony’s top prizes went to First World War drama 1917 and Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which won Best Film in their respective Drama and Comedy categories.

Earlier in the evening, Russell Crowe accepted his speech via a poignant letter he wrote while “protecting his family” from the bushfires back in his home country of Australia.

Elsewhere, Phoebe Waller-Bridge took home two prizes for her work on Fleabag and, while accepting the trophy for Best TV Series – Comedy or Musical, cracked a raunchy joke about Barack Obama.

Find a full list of the evening’s winners here.