RICKY GIG MINDERS
Comic hires bodyguards after TV trans fury
Under-fire Ricky Gervais has hired a team of bodyguards to protect him at stand-up gigs.
The 59-year-old flew into a storm of controversy after his No1-rated Netflix show was accused of poking fun at the transgender community.
Now the comedian has recruited the 10- strong security detail, which got its f irst outing at a low-key warm-up gig last week.
A source said: “He can’t take any chances.”
Insiders said the star hopes the crack squad can keep him safe from physical attack after online abuse and the stage assault of fellow comedian Dave Chappelle. The US star was criticised for jokes seen as anti-trans.
Ricky’s team is believed to have cost up to £10,000 a night. The guards, dressed in black suits with matching ear-pieces, were present at his show at London’s Leicester Square Theatre. They scanned audience members and flanked the star by the stage and the aisles.
Ricky requested that all bags were to be searched and, for the first time, no audience members were allowed bottles in their seats in case they were thrown at him.
His security crackdown comes days after TV special SuperNature was released. He was showcasing material for a planned follow-up at the gig. One member of staff said: “There’s concern there might be trouble from trans activists because of his Netflix show.”
Ricky joked to the audience: “SuperNature dropped on Netflix only a week ago and there’s this big backlash and got people arguing… then it became the most-watched special of the year – so I’ve learnt my lesson.”