When it comes to Hollywood’s award season, it has become more and more disappointing every year. From the movies no one has heard of to the disappointing fashion and the political posturing and lecturing, Hollywood is becoming both more radical and, seemingly, unhinged. But last night Ricky Gervais did the impossible. In his blistering opening monologue, Gervais singlehandedly expressed what most Americans have thought about Hollywood elites for years, and he said it to their faces.  

This was Gervais’ fifth time as the evenings host, and he didn’t pull any punches. While some of his statements were definitely crass and there was some profanity, which was removed during the broadcast, he conveyed the truth about Hollywood’s elitism, hypocrisy and disconnection from the average human being. 

“Let’s go out with a bang,” Gervais started. “Let’s have a laugh at your expense. Remember, they’re just jokes. We’re all gonna die soon and there’s no sequel, so remember that.” 

Towards the end of the monologue, after poking at some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, he truly got to the heart of the matter. “So, if you do win an award tonight, don’t use it as a platform to make a political speech. You’re in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world. Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg (the 16-year-old climate activist).” 

“So, if you win, come up, accept your little award, thank your agent, and your god and —- off, okay? It’s already three hours long. Right, let’s do this first award.”

For an opening monologue, this was a masterclass in highlighting the middle class, average American’s frustration with the Hollywood elite. 

Of course, Hollywood didn’t see the truth in Gervais’ words. There were mostly some nervous chuckles at Gervais’ toughest zingers, and several celebrities still made stump speeches for their favorite causes: like abortion and the environment. While the crowd at the Beverly Hills Hilton applauded and were teary-eyed, I doubt many Americans felt remotely the same way. A television critic from The Washington Post even called the event “hardly the provocative scorching that Gervais promised with his return.” 

The reaction from most Americans was entirely different (#HollywoodHypocrites is currently trending on Twitter).

Andrew Klavan from The Daily Wire tweeted, “A great moment. The very people who sell political correctness and feminism are the abusers of poorer people and women. About time someone mainstream said it.”

Ben Shapiro wrote, in an article for The Daily Wire, “If the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had any brains at all, they’d see that most Americans want to see comedians rip up celebrities rather than listening to actors lecture them on global warming. … Good for Gervais. He has eyes, and he has ears, and what’s more, he has a wicked hook. He used it last night. Thank goodness for that.”

Prager University has a great video series on this topic of celebrity narcissism, narrated by Candace Owens. In it, she says, “Dear Celebrities, I’m sorry to be the one to break this to you, but we do not care—not in the slightest particle of an imaginary thing—what you think. … On the one hand, we should find all of this amusing; but on the other, it’s actually deeply offensive: It’s offensive that you confuse our admiration for blind faith. … You see, we want to enjoy what you do. Sing. Dance. Act. Design. It’s a wonderful gift you have. And it’s extremely valuable not only to you, but to us. Entertaining people—making them laugh or cry—is something that you should take pride in. You enrich our world with your talent.” 

I have loved movies since I was a little girl, and the awards shows were eventually something I took interest in and watched in their entirety at one point (yes, I am ashamed to admit that). I think the first one I really watched was when Titanic was nominated. However, no longer are the awards about movies or talent. Now, those few brief minutes on the awards stage are used to lecture everyday Americans about the faults of their political and cultural viewpoints while ignoring the hypocrisy in their own.

It is truly amazing the gift that God has given men and women across this world to create beautiful pieces of art like paintings, movies, television shows and novels. We need the beauty of art to help enrich our lives. What we don’t need is the Hollywood elites having dinner at the Beverly Hills Hilton in couture outfits and million-dollar jewels telling the rest of the world how to vote or what to believe. This is a free country, and yes Hollywood can believe what they want, but the average American has that right as well.

 

Photo from Youtube