Ricky Gervais has shared his verdict on Halal slaughter after fellow comedy legend John Cleese challenged him over his outspoken stance on animal rights.
The 65-year-old After Life creator has long been a vocal animal welfare campaigner and frequently uses his social media platform to condemn cruelty.
The exchange began after an X account dedicated to clips of the comedian shared a photograph of Mr Gervais alongside a dog.
The post quoted the comedian as saying: “Animals don’t have a voice. But I do. A loud one. I’m a f***ing big mouth.
Ricky Gervais has weighed in on the debate surrounding Halal slaughter
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“My voice is for them. And I’ll never shut up while they suffer.”
The Monty Python star spotted the post and questioned his fellow comedian.
“How do you feel about Halal slaughter, Ricky?” he asked.
“Not a fan, obviously. As a vegan, I’m not a fan of any slaughter, to be honest,” Mr Gervais replied.
John Cleese and Ricky Gervais exchanged views on animal welfare on X
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“But anything that makes it even crueller, particularly religion, is a no from me.”
The Office creator’s intervention prompted a fierce debate among social media users.
One responded: “I’m not a vegan, but I have the same sentiment; any slaughter should be done to a standard that is the most humane for the animal.”
Another penned: “So Halal or Kosher slaughter is a big no for me. We’re in the 21st century; barbarism should be beyond us.”
The comedian regularly uses his social media platform to speak out against animal cruelty
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X / RICKY GERVAIS
A third agreed: “I’m with Ricky 100% – if animals must be killed, & obviously they must for the majority (I’m not stupid or preachy), it should be done as painlessly as possible – religion be damned!”
Someone else called for an “absolute ban on halal and kosher”.
However, one critic claimed: “This concern about Halal & Kosher is a ruse. Another instance of islamophobia masquerading as (animal) rights.” (sic0
Another accused Mr Gervais of being “brainwashed by islamophobes” and argued that Halal requirements place care on how an animal is treated.
Mr Gervais confirmed he was vegan in 2022 after previously following a vegetarian diet.
He has used his stand-up career to raise money for animal welfare organisations.
The exchange with Mr Cleese comes shortly after the Monty Python legend publicly threw his support behind Mr Gervais’s latest Netflix project, Alley Cats.
Halal slaughter has faced criticism from animal welfare campaigners over concerns it causes unnecessary suffering
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Mr Cleese praised the adult animated comedy on social media, describing the programme as “wonderful” and “really funny”, despite its frosty reception from some critics.
Mr Gervais was delighted by the endorsement from the veteran comedian and responded by praising Mr Cleese as the co-creator of what he considers the greatest British sitcom ever, Fawlty Towers.
The pair have expressed admiration for one another’s comedy over the years, and previously both lent their voices to the 2005 animated film Valiant.