Globes organizers pleased with Gervais

Gervais' best jokes at the Globes

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- The Hollywood Foreign Press Association insists it is pleased with Ricky Gervais' performance as host of Sunday's Golden Globe Awards show.

Some journalists and viewers have criticized Gervais for jokes he made at the expense of celebrities such as Hugh Hefner, Mel Gibson, Charlie Sheen, Robert Downey Jr., Tim Allen and Angelina Jolie, as well as the HFPA itself, which organizes the Globes.

However, the HFPA said Monday it wasn't upset by Gervais' remarks.

"We loved the show," the HFPA said in a statement issued to EW.com. "It was a lot of fun and, obviously, has a lot of people talking. When you hire a comedian like Ricky Gervais, one expects in-your-face, sometimes outrageous material. Certainly, in this case, he pushed the envelope and occasionally went too far. The HFPA would never condone some of his personal remarks. Overall, however, the show was among the best we've ever had and we were pleased."

Gervais also issued a statement addressing rumors about his absence from the middle of the Globes show.

"I did every single introduction I was meant to," he said, clearing up buzz that he had been yanked by the HFPA for his behavior. "There just happened to be a long gap. This is because I was allowed to choose who I would introduce in advance. I obviously chose presenters who I had the best jokes for. (And who I knew had a good sense of humor.) Everyone took it well and the atmosphere backstage and at the after show (party) was great."