Ricky Gervais has urged Chris Rock to do some "serious damage" when he hosts the 88th Academy Awards.
Chris, 50, is reportedly under pressure to boycott the Oscars after the Academy was slammed for a lack of diversity in the nomination list for next month’s ceremony but the Golden Globes host has urged the ‘Grown Ups’ star to use the live platform to his advantage.
Ricky said on Twitter: "If I were @chrisrock, I wouldn’t be considering boycotting The Oscars. I’d be thinking ‘this s**t is live. I can do some serious damage.’ (sic)"
His tweet comes only hours after it was revealed Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith have declined their invites to attend the ceremony.
Of Chris’ hosting duties, a source previously revealed: "Behind the scenes Chris is under extreme pressure to pull out. Many people think he would help progress be made if he quits his hosting job.
"However, Chris is listening to what they have to say, but thinks he will have a bigger impact by doing the show. He thinks it is easier to make a difference from the inside."
Following his own advice, Ricky was happy to make jokes at the expense of Caitlyn Jenner, Mel Gibson and Ben Affleck among many others when he helmed the Golden Globes ceremony earlier this month.
Of the transgender ‘I Am Cait’ star, who was involved in a car crash last year, he told the audience: "I’ve changed. Not as much as Bruce Jenner, obviously. Now Caitlyn Jenner, of course. What a year she’s had. She became a role model for trans people everywhere, showing great bravery in breaking down barriers and destroying stereotypes. She didn’t do a lot for women drivers, but you can’t have everything, can you?"
Ricky Gervais: Chris Rock should do ‘serious damage’ at Oscars
