Comedian Ricky Gervais is taking heat over a new television show after some alleged that the main character is making a mockery of those with intellectual disabilities.
The show called “Derek” stars Gervais in the title role as “a simple, vulnerable man working in an old people’s home.”
Now the comedian is on the defensive, insisting that the character is not intended to be a person with a disability.
“Derek is a fictional character and is defined by his creator. Me. If I say I don’t mean him to be disabled then that’s it. A fictional doctor can’t come along and prove me wrong,” Gervais said in an interview with Nicky Clark, a disability rights activist in Britain.
“Derek” premieres on Britain’s Channel 4 later this week, reports the BBC. To read more click here.
He may say the character is not intellectually disabled, but if that’s how Derek is perceived by the audience, then he is, for all intents and purposes, intellectually disabled. In television, perception makes or breaks.
It’s a television program. We are in a world in which we co-exist with many types of people, some of whom are going to be “simple” and “vulnerable” like Gervais’ character. I really think people dig too deeply into things looking for political incorrectness. My son has special needs, and acts quirky and flips his hands, but does that mean I condemn movies, books, or television programs if a character resembles or acts like him? No. Remember “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?” or even “Forrest Gump”? Those movies portrayed people with disabilities (I don’t recall if they were ever specifically named) and were very good movies. There is too much concern with being politically correct at all times nowadays.