Jan. 11, 2026Updated Jan. 12, 2026, 12:25 a.m. ET
Wanda Sykes has a bone to pick with Ricky Gervais.
The Emmy-nominated comedian and outspoken LGBTQ activist took aim at Gervais during the 2026 Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, Jan. 11. Sykes, 61, presented the award for best stand-up comedy performance on TV, which Gervais was nominated for.
“Shoutout to the Golden Globes for having me,” Sykes said, before quipping, “You know there’s some people pissed off that a queer Black woman is up here doing the job of two mediocre white guys.”
Sykes then proceeded to dole out a series of witty backhanded compliments to several of the nominees, including Bill Maher (“You give us so much, but I would love a little less”), Brett Goldstein (“You would’ve made a great Menendez brother”) and Kevin Hart (“Kevin is the richest guy in this category, and yet, I know he wants it the most”).
However, Sykes reserved her most stinging jab for Gervais, who has drawn controversy in recent years for his jokes about the transgender community.
“I love you for not being here,” Sykes said of Gervais. “If you win, I get to accept the award on your behalf, and you’re going to thank God and the trans community.”
Gervais, who is an atheist, drew backlash in 2022 after his Netflix special “SuperNature” took a controversial, no-holds-barred approach with lines on topics such as transgender people, Africans, Chinese people, victims of the Holocaust, global pandemics, pedophilia and more.
“I talk about AIDS, famine, cancer, the Holocaust, rape, pedophilia, but no, the one thing you mustn’t joke about is identity politics. The one thing you should never joke about is the trans issue. ‘They just wanna be treated equally.’ I agree. That’s why I include them,” Gervais said in the special.
Unfortunately for Sykes, Gervais emerged victorious at the Golden Globes when he won the stand-up comedy prize for his 2025 special, “Mortality.”
“Teyana, can I borrow your speech?” said Sykes, referring to actress Teyana Taylor’s acceptance speech, which included a shoutout to the Black community. “Because [Ricky] would like to thank God and the trans community.”
Contributing: USA TODAY staff
