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Ricky Gervais Responds To Criticism Over 'Mong' Jibes

Ricky Gervais

The Huffington Post UK   First Posted: 19/10/11 11:48 BST Updated: 19/10/11 12:16 BST

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Ricky Gervais has defended his use of the word “mong” on Twitter, after disability groups complained that it was a reference to Down syndrome.

The star of The Office said: "I have never used the word Mongol. I have used 'mong', but never to mean Down syndrome and never would."

He added: "The meaning of words change over time – ‘gay’, for example. The modern use of the word 'mong' means dopey or ignorant — it's in slang and urban dictionaries."

The comic’s tweets, which have included phrases such as "good monging" and "two mongs don't make a right", have been slammed by learning disability Mencap.

Mencap spokesman Mark Gale told The Sun: "It's very disappointing. Such language can perpetuate discriminatory attitudes."

Fellow comedian Richard Herring has also blasted the 'jokes'. He wrote on his blog: "I think many comics are guilty of using [the word "mong"] as convenient and humourless punch lines. I don't think any of them would do the same with the word 'n***er' or 'p**i' but they're happy to use 'mong' or 'retard' as a means of getting a laugh. And audiences will laugh at those words too and rarely even complain about them.


Ricky Gervais
Please retweet this to every mong you know and tell them to shut the fuck up Thanks Tweet that

"If the words are upsetting some people and perpetuating a stereotype, isn't it more noble and thoughtful to just admit you might have made a mistake and stop?"


Ricky Gervais
Night night monglets Putting the cat on recharge then off to bed

Last night Gervais thanked fans for their support over the media storm and said "others wilfully misunderstand to justify their point".

He rejoined Twitter at the end of September with a simple "Hello. Anybody there?", after previously quitting the social networking site in January 2010, calling it "undignified" for adults.


Ricky Gervais
Night twonks And thanks for the support as others wilfully misunderstand to justify their point. Cheers


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Deborah Frances-White

Deborah Frances-White: Ricky Gervais and Adventures in Twitterland

If Ricky Gervais came into a bar or a green room and said to some friends or fellow comics, "Alright mongs?", my guess is that it would cause little if any consternation, but when @rickygervais published the same phrase regularly, it started to cause trouble.

 
 
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Christine Brandel
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06:44 PM on 10/22/2011
I think Ricky Gervais is a very funny man, but he loses a little bit of my respect every time he deals with criticism with comments like "Those people aren't really offended by the things I say - they are offended by my success." People do still say mong in an offensive way in the UK, Ricky, even if you don't mean to be offensive. But dismissing any criticism by saying people are jealous is a bit lame. Richard Herring was just asking people to think about the language they use, this seems a fair point to consider.
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PatientZeroBeat
Dying since 1962
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02:55 AM on 10/20/2011
I have never associated the word "mong" with Down Syndrome. Now that it's pointed out, I can see the logical evolution and I don't deny that at one point it was probably a slur against people with Down Syndrome because it was thought that they kinda looked "Mongolian".

But it isn't in any context I've ever heard.

When I was a child the word "jip" (I had no idea how it was spelled) was used as a synonym for "cheat", as in "Don't let that guy jip you out of your money". Nobody I knew thought anything of the word as being derogatory in any way. Years later I discovered that the etymology of the word is derived from "gypsy", and that a derogatory bigoted attribution to them of being cheaters made the word "gyp" come to be.
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Wendy Stewart
300 Fans
12:10 AM on 10/20/2011
Never heard that word before in reference to anybody with downs syndrome. I guess it can mean to him what it does and mean to others something else but why are people so sensitive about everything. If he said he wasn't referring to anything of the sort give him a break. Geez..
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abuckley23
Published author. Visit me at Planet Kibi!
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10:44 PM on 10/19/2011
I grew up in the UK and mong was always used as a slang insult meaning slow or dumb. It's being taken out of context here. Gervais is still funny and he thrives on controversy. If you're really insulted by him then just ignore him.
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maggienow
61 Fans
08:26 PM on 10/19/2011
Mong??? I never heard that reference before today. If someone had called me a mong I wouldn't know if it was an insult or a compliment. I'm still not sure. But I do know that if he says he wasn't using that word to insult a group of people then I take him at his word, where as if he used the n word he could never get away with that excuse.
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alanps
46 Fans
07:17 PM on 10/19/2011
Would have been best if he had just apologized - even Mr Gervais makes mistakes.
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KateB21
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01:50 PM on 10/20/2011
He did.
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alanps
46 Fans
12:53 PM on 10/21/2011
Er no he didn't he sidestepped an apology. If you consider that an apology I have to assume you work full time in politics.
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Sandra MacKay
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06:57 PM on 10/19/2011
Making fun of others shows you lack creativity..
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Jesusocialist
Austerity Is Fealty. Power To The Poor.
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04:25 AM on 10/20/2011
The fact that every comedian in history has made fun of others to varying extents suggests otherwise.
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Sandra MacKay
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09:29 PM on 10/20/2011
Some groups are fair game and others are not, particularly groups who vulnerable.
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PMVB
511 Fans
 
06:35 PM on 10/19/2011
Ricky says "Ricky " things.
I regard him as the best comic of our day.
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Mohammed Noori
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06:07 PM on 10/19/2011
How is "being offended" considered an argument winner? What does it actually mean to be "offended"? Were you physically hurt in some way?
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normanb
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05:00 PM on 10/19/2011
Irony will always be misinterpreted by those too dumb to understand satire. It's twitter, you idiots. If you don't want to follow Ricky Gervais, don't follow him. As Jay-Z eloquently put it: "If you don't like my lyrics, you can press fast-forward." Leave following Ricky to those of us capable of rational argument. And no, "mong" isn't the equivalent of the N-word. And yes, it is ok for comedians to use the N-word. It's called "the freedom of speech" not "the freedom of speech deemed acceptable by the most sensitive, irrational and easily offended among us." The word is only offensive because you choose it to be. He's a comedian. Go watch Larry the Cable Guy if you don't like his sense of humour.
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Sockme
293 Fans
04:35 PM on 10/19/2011
He was merely tweeting to his fan base in Mongolia.
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panabaker
135 Fans
03:56 PM on 10/19/2011
For those who think it`s ok for a comedian to use derogatory names toward a group of people I have one question.......how do you feel about calling people the n word or the f word? Is that still ok with you if it comes out of the mouth of a comedian?
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Dheffernan
27 Fans
08:34 PM on 10/19/2011
Comedians use the n word and the f word regularly, as well as tons of other derogatory words. I'm not saying it is wrong or right, but it is called free speech.
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PatientZeroBeat
Dying since 1962
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03:00 AM on 10/20/2011
The issue isn't how good or bad the word is. The issue is one of intent. If the user had no clue it was a derogatory slur against folks with Down Syndrome, then this changes everything.

If I told you that the word "comedian" is actually a horrible derogatory slur against old people (who's skin is lizardy, like a Komodo Dragon, hence Comededragon, hence shortened to Comedian"), then I would give you the benefit of the doubt that you had no clue that's what the word meant at one time.
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Runey
religion is why we can't have nice things.
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04:21 PM on 10/20/2011
More people should learn to have 'lizardy skin' that's not derogatory at all, more a testament to the over sensitivity of all the whiny brats of today's age.
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kenmlarmstrong
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03:21 PM on 10/19/2011
never even heard of the word mong before. People are just way too sensitive nowadays!!!
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waldopepper
I'd tell you all about me if you were my friend.
891 Fans
01:46 PM on 10/19/2011
The problem is not unique to Mr Gervais. There is not a politician who has not made some ghastly gaff.

If you put a pipe in any of our heads and printed, publicized, or otherwise disseminated what is in our heads, it is only a matter of time before something truly offensive to some group or individual comes pouring out.

The problem is TOO easy publication, and too quick without time for reflection. The problem is TOO much access. Not enough discretion.
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Runey
religion is why we can't have nice things.
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04:20 PM on 10/20/2011
The problem is too much hyperbole and sensitivity, not 'too much access'.
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waldopepper
I'd tell you all about me if you were my friend.
891 Fans
05:38 PM on 10/20/2011
When somebody says something that is recognized as universally offensive - the utterances of Mel Gibson or Michael Richards spring to mind. Is that too much hyperbole and too much sensitivity?

I would say that such things had occurred in the past too. But technology makes them more widely disseminated, and the revulsion that the public expresses is the correct reaction.
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Runey
religion is why we can't have nice things.
690 Fans
 
12:55 PM on 10/19/2011
He's a comedian, even if he is making fun of down's syndrome, HE IS A COMEDIAN.
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alanps
46 Fans
12:55 PM on 10/21/2011
I agree - and wasn't Bernard Manning a laugh too! Gosh all those immigrants were just too damn touchy Runey eh? Ooh lets listen to that old tape of good old racist jokes - hey they are told by COMEDIANS so that's fine (according to your logic)
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Runey
religion is why we can't have nice things.
690 Fans
 
04:09 PM on 10/21/2011
They have that freedom of expression, its not 'all hate crime' as some people would just love to label it. But keep on crying, i'm sure the Comedian isn't going to lose much sleep over it.
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