Comic flamed over offensive term

Ricky Gervais has been flamed on Twitter for his continual use of the word ‘mong’ as an insult.

The comic has received scores of complaints for using the insult with pictures of himself pulling faces, as well as directing the term at people who disagree with him.

He claims the word has gone beyond its original meaning as a derogatory term for someone with Down’s Syndrome and is mounted a staunch defence for his right to say it.

He claimed: ‘Just to clarify for uptight people stuck in the past. The word mong means Down's Syndrome about as much as the word gay means happy. ie I never use the word mong to mean anything to do with Downs Syndrome.’

However, many feel that defence is disingenuous. Screenwriter Andrea Gibb, whose younger sister Roberta has Down’s Sydrome, said: ‘Gervais thinks it's okay to reclaim the word “mong”. Tell that to my sis and her pals when his smart-arse fans reclaim it in their direction.’

And Richard Herring, himself no stranger to controversy, spoke out against the use of the word.

Writing on his blog, he said: ‘Ricky Gervais is new to Twitter and seems to have spent the first couple of weeks mainly posting pictures of himself pulling the kind of faces that school children pull to parody the disabled and calling people "mongs

‘I think many comics are guilty of using [the word] as convenient and humourless punchlines. I don't think any of them would do the same with the word "nigger" or "paki" 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.’

And he questioned why Gervais was determined to fight this battle when it was clearly disturbing to some, saying: ‘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?’

Writer Caitlin Moran also questioned why Gervais was determined to make a stand, tweeting sardonically: ‘Good to see the effort Ricky Gervais is putting into this "Bring back mong" project. Meanwhile, Eddie Izzard prepares to run for mayor.’

Newer comic Chris Coltrane tweeted: ‘I see Ricky Gervais is using his Twitter account to bring the word "mong" back. It must be confusing to be so rich, but so full of hate.’

While fellow stand-up James W Smith posted: ‘Personally speaking, I wish Ricky Gervais all the success in the world, I just wish he'd stop using the word “mong” while pulling faces.’

And comic strip writer Adam Webbow said: ‘The sad pathetic grasp at controversy/attention by Ricky Gervais with his “reclaiming the word mong” “joke” is weak, empty and loathsome.’

However, Gervais was resolute, directing followers to an internet slang dictionary that defined mong as ‘complete idiot’ and urging: ‘Please retweet this to every mong you know and tell them to shut the fuck up.’

He concluded: ‘Dear fans. Don't give the haters any attention. Those people aren't really offended by the things I say - they are offended by my success.’

And he did have some support. John Dorrington Harris tweeted: ‘I work as a support worker with young people with Downs Syndrome! As long as Mong is not directed at them, the term is OK.’

And he seemed to have found support from Piers Morgan who tweeted: ‘Could you come on my #CNN show again soon as be as deeply offensive as possible?’

It is not the first time Gervais has landed in trouble for using the word, after he directed it at Britain’s Got Talent singer Susan Boyle last year.

Published: 17 Oct 2011