Ricky Gervais unrepentant for saying ‘mong’ on Twitter

RICKY GERVAIS has refused to apologise after disability groups and fellow comedians condemned him yesterday for repeatedly using the word 'mong' on Twitter and posting photos of himself pulling "monged-up" faces. In the past month Gervais's Twitter followers have leapt from 68,000 to more than 440,000 as the comedian became embroiled in an online row about the use of the term.

In a statement yesterday Gervais said that the term was completely different to 'mongol' – a derogatory term for people with Down's syndrome. "I have never used the word 'mongol'. I have used the word 'mong'," he said. "I have never used that word to mean Down's syndrome and never would."

He added: "I have explained, even during stand-up shows, that the meaning of words change over time. Gay, for example, would never be used to mean 'happy' any more. The modern use of the word 'mong' means 'dopey' or 'ignorant'. It's even in modern slang and urban dictionaries."

The controversy began after Gervais returned to Twitter on 29 September, having given up after just six tweets in January 2010. Within days he had made a string of tweets involving variations on the word 'mong'. Phrases included "What a fucking useless Mong I really am", "two mongs don't make a right" and "good monging".

Gervais had already responded to criticism earlier this month, tweeting: "Just to clarify for uptight people stuck in the past. The word Mong means Downs syndrome about as much as the word Gay means happy."

But yesterday the row boiled over as disability groups spoke out. Frank Buckley, of Down Syndrome Education International, told the Sun: "Most would consider it as offensive as comparable terms of abuse referring to racial background or sexual orientation." A Mencap spokesman, Mark Gale, said that the comedian's behaviour was "very disappointing", adding that "such language can perpetuate discriminatory attitudes".

Fellow comedian Richard Herring also criticised Gervais for using the word but noted that a number of other comics were "happy to use 'mong' or 'retard' as a means of getting a laugh". He added: "If the words are upsetting some people and perpetuating a stereotype, isn't it more noble and thoughtful to just admit you might have made a mistake and stop?"

It's not the first time Gervais – who once said of himself "one false move and I'm Jim Davidson" – has caused offence with the targets of his jokes, be they Hollywood A-listers at the Golden Globes or people in wheelchairs in The Office.  In August he wrote a blog for The Huffington Post in which he said that his job as a comedian "isn't just to make people laugh but also make them think".

Last night Gervais remained unrepentant, bullishly posting another gurning self-portrait of himself (above) on Twitter with the caption: "The police just came round and confiscated all my awards. Gutted."

And he seems set to keep pushing the levels of acceptability next month when his new comedy starts on BBC2. Life's Too Short is a seven-part comedy about a dwarf.