Ricky Gervais Tops Netflix and Donates Millions to Animal Charities
Comedian Ricky Gervais has donated nearly £2.5 million to 22 animal charities from the earnings of his recent stand-up tour.
The donations support organizations across the UK, including Flori’s Friends Animal Rescue in Chartham Hatch, Retreat Animal Rescue in High Halden, and Safe Haven for Donkeys in Haywards Heath, West Sussex.
Gervais, 64, shared the news on Facebook, saying the donations were “to celebrate the spirit of Christmas.” He added, “These are the lovely charities I’ve chosen. Merry Xmas, critters.”
He also joked about his late mother, “My mum always used to say ‘you can’t take it with you.’ No I can’t mum. But I could’ve bought 30 speedboats and raced them round the Med with my mates. Anyway. Too late now.”
This follows Gervais’ previous charity giving of £1.9 million in 2023 from an earlier tour. Flori’s Friends Animal Rescue, which helps paralyzed dogs with wheelchairs, will receive £100,000 to cover overhead costs.
Founder Natalia George told BBC Radio Kent, “This is absolutely incredible news. I think Ricky was looking for an up-and-coming charity carrying out specialist work. Our mission is to normalise disabilities in dogs. Ricky has made such a difference to so many paralysed dogs.”
Safe Haven for Donkeys in West Sussex will also benefit from the donation. CEO Andy Foxcroft said, “Ricky’s generosity comes at a time of exceptional pressure for our teams supporting donkeys in Gaza and the West Bank. With demand for urgent veterinary care continuing to rise, this donation will help us keep our life-saving work going in extremely challenging conditions.”
The donations are divided so that four charities will receive £150,000, 17 will get £100,000, and £132,000 will go to Nowzad, a charity delivering animal welfare support in Afghanistan and Ukraine. Founder Pen Farthing said, “For us this is a huge amount of money. We are just so chuffed that Ricky decided to donate some of that money to us.”
Alongside his stand-up career, Gervais is known for co-creating, co-writing, and starring in BBC shows The Office, Extras, and Life’s Too Short with Stephen Merchant. He also created and starred in Channel 4’s Derek and Netflix’s After Life.
It’s inspiring to see a celebrity using their success to make a real difference in the lives of animals. Ricky Gervais’ generosity shows that even comedic stars can have a huge impact off-stage. What do you think about his charitable donations this year? Share your thoughts in the comments.