Netflix dropping Ricky Gervais special on Christmas day that will ‘break the internet’

Christmas just keeps on getting better

Why's that? Because his stand-up special Armageddon is set to premiere on Netflix on the big day itself, December 25.

In a statement shared yesterday (November 20), Gervais joked: "For the next 2,000 years, people will remember the 25th December as the day Armageddon was released on Netflix."

Directed by John L. Spencer, the show took place at the London Palladium earlier this year.

Netflix themselves describe the special in a synopsis reading: "The BAFTA- and Golden Globe-winning mind behind The Office, Extras and Afterlife takes the stage for a provocative new stand-up special, riffing on the end of humanity, political correctness, family weddings, funerals and Artificial Intelligence."

However, the special has already caused controversy, with viewers already having started a petition to cancel the show.

In a preview of his set, Gervais made some comments about terminally ill children and used an ableist slur that has left people reeling.

“We can all take a good joke but this is below the belt for him and not one part of making jokes about ill children is funny. Vile," one person wrote.

A second said: “This is the most vile attempt at “comedy” I’ve ever seen. Sick and dying children wish for a video from him, and he mocks them like this? Shame on you @rickygervais. Children fighting for their life are NO laughing matter. I have no respect for this man.”

Related links:

• Ricky Gervais breaks world record with latest comedy tour
• Ricky Gervais calls bullfighter gored in the rectum a c**t
• Ricky Gervais says ‘smart people’ don’t get angry over jokes about Hitler, AIDS or cancer
• Ricky Gervais death threats spark security overhaul ahead of UK tour Armageddon