3amCelebrity NewsRicky GervaisRicky Gervais didn't hold back after being told someone was offended by a light-hearted sketch on After Life - and fears the world has changed in the past five to ten years13:26, 01 Jun 2026Updated 13:26, 01 Jun 2026Ricky Gervais is worried people appear to be getting "thicker" and says there's a growing number who now have no idea at all about sarcasm or irony.‌During a Q&A session on X, the Office star responded to a fan who asked for his thoughts on people who got upset after watching a clip of him in action yelling at a kid on much-loved show After Life. The heart-warming show depicts grieving widower Tony, who is seen struggling with his mental health after losing his wife to cancer.‌The award-winning series is a touching look at grief, depression and what comes next and Ricky brilliantly fuses the hard topics with comedy - but it's clearly not everyone's cup of tea.‌A follower questioned: "Someone I know told me they'd seen a clip of you shouting at a child, I had to tell them it was from Afterlife and it was not real life."Ricky responded: "They don't know me so they have to make assumptions on things they've seen. Even now I'm mucking around and saying things I don't mean - jokes! Some people take jokes seriously. There seems to be a drop off of people who understand sarcasm and irony in the last five to ten years.‌"It's a f*****g joke. F**k me, could I?! Some people are just f*****g thick. Wilfully as well. They know it's a joke but they don't like you so they say 'Oh he's nasty!' Who cares? They're idiots. I like it when they don't get the joke because most people get it."After Life has been watched by a staggering 100million people across the globe, according to Netflix.‌In a candid interview with the Mirror in 2022, Ricky revealed how his partner, novelist Jane Fallon, was the inspiration for the much-loved series.“I don’t think I’ve ever been lonely,” he says. “I don’t think I’ve ever suffered from depression or despair like Tony. I’ve seen it – you don’t get to 60 without seeing most things. I’ve lost both parents and a sibling, and all my pets and some friends.“But the ultimate for me would be losing my soulmate. That’s the worst thing that could happen to me. So, it’s an imagination, a fiction, that stems from that.”Article continues belowLike this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Ricky Gervais