Interview Transcript
Question: Are you a radical?
Gervais: Yeah, yeah. It’s a tough one. And, of course, you know, there’s a big difference between saving someone’s life and just getting… getting the right mascara. Of course, there’s no doubt about that. There’s a big difference. But… I mean, it’s more fundamental in that. There’re still… There’re still blood spots in the world. Bull fighting… Really? Really? You want to see an animal [stab] to death for your pleasure? You really… You really get off on that, do you? I cheer when a [terrier dog] gets gored to death. I love it. You [should’ve gone] in there, you know. It’s not a fair fight. People shooting for pleasure. There’re people wearing fur of endangered… I don’t know what to do with them. I don’t know what to fucking do with them. Just think, why you’re doing it? Why’d you need that? Crazy. It’s just crazy. I say, I’m going to crack a few heads. But anyway…
Ricky Gervais on Animal Rights
Actor, Comedian
The comedian on the cruelty of bullfighting.
February 26, 2009 | In Truth & Justice
Discuss
Linda Lemley on March 1, 2009, 12:38 AM
We deny the rights of anything, including animals, that we see as different than us. People sympathetic to animals say we kill them because they cannot communicate the feelings they may have, or the desire they may have to live, but we kill even when someone begs to live. We bomb children for no other reason than the fact that they are brown, or yellow, or in the way of our acquisition of oil or wealth, or simply because they see God through a different window than we do. So, how can we expect animals to gain a standing we do not afford as a people to our own species. I am afraid , as long as mankind exists in any number whatsoever, that animals will always draw the short stick, always run from the bullet and cower under the cruelty of ownership, or the inconvenience of their positions to our gain. Animal rights are a Utopian idea that I hope I live to see, but I know that even if it reaches the judicial system I am afraid I am left with the knowledge that law is carried out by man.
Stephen LeMarbre on March 4, 2009, 3:07 PM
Bullfighting’s actually pretty cool. And they eat the meat…so what’s the problem. Its a cultural thing. Ricky – quit being such a Sally. They are animals, not people. Kind of ridiculous that you cheer when someone gets hurt.
Ray Lamb on March 23, 2009, 3:16 PM
Well this is a tough subject for me because I typically don’t bother with animal rights. But when I sit down and hear the differing viewpoints from each side I think I have a good idea on where I stand. If one takes time to sit down and think about it, you have to wonder would this be the sort of thing that you would want to take your children to go see and watch? I don’t think so. If anything I’d rather take my kids out for a walk in the park or something like that. Now I don’t agree with animal fights cause it’s a waste of time in my opinion and the only thing I’d want to see get killed is a deer when I’m out hunting. But that’s just my opinion. People just need to know where to draw the line on these kind of matters.
Pat Curran on July 25, 2009, 7:13 PM
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