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Wanda Sykes throws shade at Ricky Gervais with mention of 'trans community' after he wins Golden Globe

Home> Celebrity> News

Updated 04:19 12 Jan 2026 GMTPublished 03:59 12 Jan 2026 GMT

Wanda Sykes throws shade at Ricky Gervais with mention of 'trans community' after he wins Golden Globe

Wanda Sykes took a few shots at the absent Ricky Gervais after his award win

Gerrard Kaonga

Gerrard Kaonga

Wanda Sykes threw a couple jabs at British comedian Ricky Gervais when she announced he was a Golden Globe winner.

The 64-year-old Ricky Gervais has been in the business quite a long time, and at this point has certainly ruffled some feathers over the years.

While he was praised repeatedly for taking a dig at celebrities when he hosted the Golden Globes way back when, he has also found himself caught up in a few controversies, something Wanda Sykes made references to at this year's award ceremony.

During this year’s Golden Globes, she announced that Gervais won his second Golden Globe for Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television for his Mortality Netflix stand up.

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But as the Brit was absent from the award ceremony, Sykes had a chance to ridicule the comedian as she accepted the award on his behalf.

Ricky Gervais was not in attendance to accept his award, so Sykes made a few jokes at his expense (Rich Polk/2026GG/Penske Media via Getty Images)
Ricky Gervais was not in attendance to accept his award, so Sykes made a few jokes at his expense (Rich Polk/2026GG/Penske Media via Getty Images)

She noted she would ‘borrow from’ Teyana Taylor's speech, that she made earlier in the night when she won for Best Supporting Actress, as she accepted the award on Gervais’ behalf.

She said: “Because he would like to thank God and the trans community.”

Gervais has famously been outspoken about being atheist and has previously found himself in hot water for his jokes directed at the Trans community.

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He has even previously been dubbed ‘anti-trans’ and 'dangerous’ by some rights groups.

However, this is a sentiment that Gervais has addressed and denied.

Gervais has faced some backlash in the past for jokes about the Trans community (Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal Media, LLC via Getty Images)
Gervais has faced some backlash in the past for jokes about the Trans community (Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal Media, LLC via Getty Images)

The comedian has said: “In real life, of course I support trans rights. I support all human rights and trans rights are human rights.

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"Live your best life, use your preferred pronouns, be the gender that you feel that you are.

He did however go on to add a punchline about trans women. He also went on to mention Eddie Izzard, who has identified as being gender fluid and requested she/her pronouns.

Gervais also said "it's mad to think that joking about something means you're anti-it."

Social media users praised Sykes all the same for the digs directed at Gervais.

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One X user wrote: “Wanda Sykes dragging him the whole time dayuuummm!”

Another wrote: “Wanda Sykes thanking God and the trans community on behalf of Ricky Gervais was perfect.”

A third added: “'Ricky Gervais would like to thank god and the trans community' LMAOOOOO WANDA SYKES.”

And another writing: “HER ACCEPTING THE AWARD & SAYING HE THANKS GOD & THE TRANS COMMUNITY LMAOOOOO QUEEN!!!

Most shocking Golden Globes moments of all time

The Golden Globes is an award ceremony known for its candid speeches, unforgettable fashion moments and, of course, pure drama. Here are some of the most shocking and memorable moments the Golden Globes have brought us.

2025: Zendaya debuts her engagement ring

Starting off strong with perhaps the most jaw-dropping moment from last year's ceremony - the giant rock that Zendaya debuted on that finger.

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While the Euphoria star is yet to publicly speak out about her engagement to Spider-Man frontman Tom Holland, a family source confirmed to PEOPLE that the couple are indeed set to tie the knot.

(Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage)
(Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage)

2024: Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez' juicy conversation

The internet was obsessed with the interaction between the two singers, causing fans to speculate what they could have been whispering and look so shook over.

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While many assumed it was something to do with Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet, who were also both in attendance at that year's Golden Globes, Gomez later clarified on social media that she was telling Swift about 'two of her friends who hooked up'.

(CBS)
(CBS)

2024: Jo Koy's hosting falls flat

The comedian's first time hosting the Golden Globes unfortunately didn't go down as well as we imagine he'd hoped, with his jokes provoking a number of different reactions in the room - including Selena Gomez at one point putting her head in her hands.

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Koy himself even seemed to acknowledge how his jokes weren't landing, saying to the audience: "I got this gig 10 days ago, you want a perfect monologue?!"

2020: Michelle Williams' speech on reproductive rights

After winning the gong for best actress in a limited series or TV movie for her role in Fosse/Verdon, Williams surprised the audience and viewers alike with a passionate speech about women's reproductive rights.

"I wouldn't have been able to do this without employing a woman's right to choose," she said. "To choose when to have my children, and with whom.

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"I am grateful to live in a moment in our society where choice exists, because as girls and women, things can happen to our bodies that are not our choice."

(David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
(David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

2018: Seth Meyers' fiery monologue on sexual harassment in Hollywood

During his opening monologue of the 2018 ceremony, Meyers took aim directly at several disgraced Hollywood figures, including Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey.

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"Good evening ladies and remaining gentlemen... It’s 2018. Marijuana is finally allowed, and sexual harassment finally isn’t," he said.

2014: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's dig at the men of Hollywood

The comedic duo weren't afraid to call out some of Hollywood's leading men during their 2014 Golden Globes monologue.

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“Like a supermodel’s vagina, let’s all give a warm welcome to Leonardo DiCaprio," Fey said, while she said of George Clooney: "Gravity is nominated for best film. It’s the story of how George Clooney would rather float away into space and die than spend one more minute with a woman his own age."

Yikes.

2003: Jack Nicholson admits to being high on Valium

When picking up his award for best actor in a drama for his role in About Schmidt, Nicholson took the opportunity to tell the audience that he was, indeed, high on Valium - a drug used to relieve anxiety.

2001: Renée Zellweger’s poorly timed bathroom visit

When she was announced as the winner of the best actress in a musical or comedy award for her role in Nurse Betty, Zellweger was nowhere to be seen.

After Hugh Grant started to accept the award on her behalf, the Bridget Jones legend finally appeared on stage and admitted she'd been in the bathroom taking lipstick off her teeth. Bit relatable, if I'm honest.

1996: Brad Pitt thanks an anti-diarrhoea medication

Pitt won the award for best supporting actor for his role in 12 Monkeys, and he decided to dedicate his win to Kaopectate, an anti-diarrhoea medication.

"I’d like to thank...actually, the makers of Kaopectate,” the actor said. "They’ve done a great service for their fellow man."

Featured Image Credit: CBS

Topics: Ricky Gervais, News, Golden Globes, US News, Celebrity

Gerrard Kaonga
Gerrard Kaonga

Gerrard is a Journalist at UNILAD and has dived headfirst into covering everything from breaking global stories to trending entertainment news. He has a bachelors in English Literature from Brunel University and has written across a number of different national and international publications. Most notably the Financial Times, Daily Express, Evening Standard and Newsweek.

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