Ricky Gervais isn't backing away from controversial comedy.The comedian doubled down on his long-held defense of free speech during a recent radio interview, saying he has no interest in changing his material to avoid offending audiences — and arguing that backlash only adds to the joke."I don't tell people not to be offended; I tell them I don't care if they are.Be offended if you want, it makes it funnier for me," Gervais said during an appearance on BBC Radio 2.RICKY GERVAIS MOCKS GRAMMY WINNERS MAKING POLITICAL SPEECHES, SAYS THEY'RE 'STILL NOT LISTENING' Ricky Gervais speaks onstage at the Season 3 Premiere of Netflix's "After Life" at the BFI Southbank in London. (David M.
Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images, File)The 65-year-old comic, whose stand-up specials have frequently sparked criticism over jokes about politics, gender identity, religion and celebrities, rejected the idea that he intentionally sets out to provoke audiences."You can't help by what you're offended by, but … don't expect me to care… It's a myth that I go out to offend.I never go out to offend," he said.
"I just know that it's probably going to happen because everyone's different."Gervais argued that virtually any opinion can offend someone.RICKY GERVAIS SAYS HE HAD A 'BLAST' AT THE GOLDEN GLOBES: 'MAKE JOKES, NOT WAR'Ricky Gervais at the 2012 Golden Globes.(Paul Drinkwater/NBC via Getty Images, File)"There's nothing you can say, particularly anything that's mildly interesting or contentious or your viewpoint, that someone somewhere won't find offensive," he said.Reflecting on how reactions to comedy have evolved, Gervais said audiences today are quicker to take offense than they were two decades ago."And times have changed.
Twenty years ago, if someone said I was offended by that, I probably would go, 'Why?' Now I go… 'I know you are.Everyone is.'"Ricky Gervais tells the Los Angeles Times how he gets away with his offensive comedy.
(Getty Images, File)While Gervais has frequent...