Gervais spends a significant portion of the set addressing the backlash to his jokes (particularly from his Golden Globes hosting stints) and arguing that "you can laugh at bad things without being a bad person".
The special is structured less like a traditional joke-set and more like a series of on the state of the world. Ricky Gervais: Humanity
Released in 2018 as his first stand-up special in seven years, is a provocative exploration of celebrity, aging, and the "epidemic of offense" in modern society. Filmed during his record-breaking world tour, the special finds Gervais deconstructing the mechanics of comedy and defending his right to be "objectionable" in an era of heightened social sensitivity. Core Themes & Philosophy Gervais spends a significant portion of the set