Celebrity | Ricky Gervais Ricky Gervais Explains That Missing Hour Absence was planned, host says By Rob Quinn Posted Jan 17, 2011 10:34 PM CST Copied Host Ricky Gervais is shown during the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/NBC, Paul Drinkwater) Ricky Gervais' hour-long absence from the Golden Globes Sunday night wasn't because celebrities were outraged at his insult-filled monologue and cutting introductions of Bruce Willis and Johnny Depp, the MC says. Conspiracy theorists suggested the British comic—who appeared more subdued upon his return—had been fired or even spirited away by outraged Scientologists, but Gervais says the absence was planned, Mediaite reports. "I did every single introduction I was meant to. 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," Gervais said in a statement. "Everyone took it well and the atmosphere backstage and at the after show was great.” Read These Next Trump doesn't use pot, but he's mulling pot-friendly policy. Hegseth admires pastors with some eyebrow-raising thoughts on women. It's the most modern of insults: Clanker. You can't just unleash bees on cops without consequences. Report an error