Ricky Gervais says offending people is easy: Report

Ricky Gervais has once again defended his controversial approach to comedy, insisting that offending people is not an achievement and that making audiences laugh is the true measure of success.

The comedian and The Office creator addressed his reputation for pushing boundaries during a recent interview, explaining that while many critics focus on whether his jokes offend, his primary goal has always been to be funny. 

Gervais argued that "offending people is easy," adding that anyone can upset others, but crafting jokes that genuinely entertain requires talent and precision.

The 65-year-old has long been outspoken about artistic freedom, maintaining that comedians should be free to explore controversial subjects as long as the material is intended as comedy rather than harm.

According to Daily Mail, he has repeatedly argued that audiences who dislike a performance are free to avoid it rather than demand it be censored.

Gervais has faced criticism over several of his stand-up specials and awards show monologues, particularly for jokes touching on religion, politics and gender identity. 

Despite the backlash, he has consistently defended his work by saying that the subject of a joke is not necessarily its target, and that context is essential in comedy.

The comedian is currently preparing for his upcoming Legend stand-up tour, following the commercial success of his Mortality tour, which became his highest-earning live show to date.