“It’s still around”: Ricky Gervais’ ‘The Office’ Clarification is Proof Hollywood is Over-Estimating Cancel Culture Without Taking Any Real Risks

Cancel culture has existed since the end of the olde worlde and the beginning of the new. Persecution and witch hunts have evolved into a more technologically savvy practice of removing whatever subverts the mob mentality. Now, it seems like The Office has become the latest victim to fall into the clutches of cancel culture.

Ricky Gervais’ show was always a series packed with risks, the bold statement of work existing even to this day speaks to its nature. However, the threat of criticism always looms and it’s only a matter of time until the sentiment of the masses gets strong enough to justify its cancelation and remove it completely from pop culture.

Ricky Gervais Sets the Record Straight for The Office

The notorious David Brent, who is known for his crass sexist and racist jabs, has mostly targeted his well-meaning, generously of sound mind, and moderately educated employees. Ricky Gervais pulls off his brilliant portrayal with enough conviction to make the audience feel repelled yet fascinated by his existence. Such a dichotomous character isn’t entirely superficial at its core.

However, it is this paradox of a man cruising through the modern world, refusing to separate his own biased beliefs from that of a socially and emotionally evolved culture, that makes him a target of cancelation.

After The Office became almost synonymous with cancel culture, its proprietor, Ricky Gervais felt it pertinent to address the issue with as much sincerity as he could master, despite being known for ridiculing such Hollywood notions and practices. In a BBC interview, Gervais claimed:

“I mean, now it would be cancelled. I’m looking forward to when they pick out one thing and try to cancel it. Someone said they might try to cancel it one day, and I say, ‘Good, let them cancel it. I’ve been paid!’”

However, after his comments sparked controversy online, he took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to clarify his stance on the subject.

Just to be clear, I did not say The Office would be cancelled if it were made today. That makes no sense. It's still around. This is my actual quote. "Someone said they might try to cancel it one day, and I said, 'Good, let them cancel it. I've been paid!'" Clearly a joke.

— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) July 9, 2021

Gervais’ comments and later clarification only prove how Hollywood remains constantly threatened by censorship and cancel culture. In this age of social media, instant news, anonymity, and global accessibility, mass mentality can surge and flow and deem any politician, celebrity, movie, show, or song canceled within the blink of an eye.

The Office Will Always Remain Relevant in Pop Culture

Ricky Gervais’ beliefs about the relevance that The Office carries reflect as much pride and bias a parent would have towards their child. And yet, the audience can faithfully stand behind Gervais in defending the series since its very purpose is to enrage the viewer, play with the established norms of modern society, and question progressive views and practices that we otherwise take for granted.

Only by doing so – by enraging the audience with his character’s shocking racism, unwarranted sexism, questionable behavior, and ill-equipped mentality – can the viewers engage in a conversation and revisit the origins of historical evils of the past, atrocities that led to civil war and revolutions that brought about the abolishment of slavery and the emancipation of women and make these issues current again.

The Office (UK) is available for streaming on Peacock.