Ricky Gervais says he regrets poking fun at Tim Allen during the Golden Globes.
The comedian, who’s hosting the awards ceremony this year for the fifth time, was asked by The Hollywood Reporter if he’s ever regretted one of his jabs.
In response, Gervais singled out a joke he made while introducing Tom Hanks and Allen at the 2011 Golden Globes.
“What can I say about our next two presenters?” he asked.
“The first is an actor, producer and director whose movies have grossed over $3.5bn at the box office. He’s won two Academy Awards and three Golden Globes for his powerful and varied performances, starring in such films as Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Castaway, Apollo 13 and Saving Private Ryan. The other... is Tim Allen.”
Explaining why he regretted the jab, Gervais said he believes Allen “took it wrong”.
“The joke was him and Tom Hanks. So I came out and said, ‘Our next two presenters, the first has won five Oscars, combined box office of five billion dollars. And the other, Tim Allen.’ Right? It’s a fine joke. I’m teasing Tim Allen,” the comedian said.
“But anyone standing next to Tom Hanks, unless it’s Dustin Hoffman or Robert Redford or Robert De Niro, that could be me. But it happened to be Tim Allen. And I have nothing against Tim Allen. He’s a good actor. He’s probably a nice bloke.”
Gervais insisted there was “no malice” behind his joke, adding that he didn’t want Allen to feel personally targeted by it.
Rather, he said, he made fun of Allen simply because he was “standing next to Tom Hanks” in that instant.
The 2020 Golden Globes will take place on 5 January.
