Ricky Gervais Defends His Golden Globes Jokes: ‘They Hired Me To Be Me’

Ricky Gervais is about to take the stage at Sunday’s Golden
Globe Awards, and as he hit the red carpet, the night’s host was already in
fine form.

“When do the beers begin?” Access Hollywood’s
Billy Bush asked Ricky on the red carpet.

“They’ve started,” a sunglass-wearing Ricky
smiled. “Don’t forget, I’m from England and there it’s really late. So I’m
not drinking early.”

As for those who might need to duck and cover once Ricky
takes the stage, the one celebrity likely to find himself in the comedian’s
crosshairs is long-time butt of Ricky’s jokes Mel Gibson.

But is Ricky worried about taking another shot at the
embattled actor?

“He was tough in ‘Lethal Weapon’ wasn’t he? And in
‘Braveheart.’ Nothing could hurt him in ‘Braveheart,” Ricky noted, only to
have Billy remind him Mel is simply an actor.

“Oh, he’s an actor? I’m not scared of him then,”
Ricky grinned. “He’s not even really Scottish!”

For Ricky, there is never a concern over crossing the line
with his notorious jabs, thanks in part to his own success.

“They hired me to be me, I hope. Or they should’ve
hired someone else. I’m not trying to ruin anyone’s night,” the Globes
host explained. “The thing is, I’m not beholden to anyone in that room. I
write my own stuff. I direct my own stuff… I don’t have to worry about what
anyone in that room thinks of me.”

The 2016 Golden Globes begin at 8 PM ET on NBC.

— Eric Anderson