Gervais Talks Globes on CNN: ‘I Mustn’t Come Out There As Everyone’s Mate and Schmooze — That’s Nauseating’

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Ricky Gervais appears on Piers Morgan tonight – see a clip after the jump – and defends his controversial appearance at the Golden Globes. (via Tuned In)

As far as Gervais is concerned, the uproar over his Hollywood roast – and his skewering of the awards body that organizes the Globes – misses the point: What else was he supposed to do?

“I don’t think I did anything wrong…I’m confronting the elephant in the room,” Gervais says. “Like I’m going to go out there and not talk about the issues in their industry. I’ve got to be an outsider there, I mustn’t come out there as everyone’s mate and schmooze — that’s nauseating. I’ve got to come out there and roast them.”

(More at NewsFeed: Golden Globes Fashion — The 5 Stars Who Looked Fat This Year)

In the days since the dropped jaws, several other comedians have come out in praise of Gervais’ routine – namely David Letterman, Conan O’Brien and Aziz Ansari (of Parks & Recreation fame), who gave Gervais a glowing red carpet review during a Golden Globes after party.

Meanwhile, media pundits have weighed in with some praise of their own: “The more I thought about it Sunday night and Monday, the more I started siding with Bale, De Niro and those other movie stars who share their sentiments, who are forced to attend this ceremony even though merit has nothing to do with what’s going on (The Tourist was obviously nominated to get Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt into the audience),” wrote our colleagues over at Tuned In. “And with Gervais. He has every right to comment on what’s going on, to make topical jokes, and the gathered celebrities then have every right to respond as they deem appropriate. This year, their reactions said a little more than they might have intended: That many celebs are too sensitive for self-deprecation, too self-involved to laugh at themselves” …check out the full breakdown at Tuned In.

(More Awards Coverage: The Top 10 Post-Oscar Busts of All-Time)