1st February 2010
Comments (215) He's not known for his sensitive approach on delicate issues.
But even Ricky Gervais may have overstepped the mark this time, with his irreverent comments on the subject of over-population.
The comedian - who does not have children - said ‘irresponsible’ parents should be sterilised.
Child-free: Ricky Gervais with Jane FallonGervais, 48, said there were ‘too many unwanted children, too many people who are poor and struggling’.
He added: ‘If they all had a good quality of life, no one would complain. What there is, is too many useless people. Too many people who shouldn’t have children.’
Asked whether there should be a limitation then, he told the Sunday Times: ‘Yes, based on… stupid, fat faces. If there’s a woman in leggings, eating chips with a fag in her mouth, sterilise her.’
It was suggested that Gervais, who grew up on a council estate in Reading, was calling for ‘chavs’ to be sterilised.
But he insisted his views were not based purely on class.
‘I described an irresponsible parent. Chavs could be included in irresponsible though.’