Gervais Cleared Over 'Stokies Look Like Mongs’ Jibe

Chubby southern comedian Ricky Gervais has been cleared by TV regulator Ofcom after using the word "mong" in relation to Stokies.

The tubby funster used the plural form of the word (i.e. "mongs") during a live comedy show, later broadcast by Channel 4, to describe what people from Stoke look like. The channel received literally some complaints, but these have been rejected by Ofcom.

Ofcom stated: "The show was prefaced by a warning that it would contain adult humour, and it did. Job done. Case closed. You didn’t have to carry on watching after that if you are easily offended. It's quite literally your own fault."

South Korean hip hop artist MC Mong

The word "mong" has long been viewed as a derogatory term. Dave Murray, Executive Media Director at the Cobridge Tourist Board, has blasted the decision by Ofcom. He told The Daily Oatcake: "We’re very disappointed with the decision. Not only is the word 'mong' deeply offensive, but this ruling indicates that you can say anything you want on TV, however offensive, as long as there’s a warning in front of the programme, which I don’t agree with. And, let’s face it, there are far worse people than Stokies he could have picked. Like people from Derbyshire or Birmingham, for example. They’re loads uglier than we are."