Ricky Gervais on Golden Globes: 'I'm not there to hurt feelings'

Ricky Gervais has asserted that he will not attempt to insult any stars at this weekend's Golden Globes.

The Life's Too Short comic, who is hosting the awards ceremony tomorrow for the third year running, caused controversy last year after jokes he made about the likes of Charlie Sheen and Robert Downey Jr.

Speaking at HBO's Television Critics Association, Gervais told Access Hollywood: "I've got nothing against any of those people in the room.

"I've worked with many of them, I like many of them, I admire most of them. They're just gags.

"I'm not trying to hurt anyone's feelings or give them a bad night or undermine the moral fabric of America. I'm a comedian."

Gervais, who recently said he would use a similar style to his 2011 show, went on: "I'd rather they laugh than gasp, but I cherish the gasps along with the laughs."

The Office star added: "I'm not one of those [comedians who thinks] comedy is your conscience taking the day off. My conscience never takes the day off… I can justify it and I stand by it as I do every joke I did last year and I don't care. I don't care what people think."

The 69th annual Golden Globes airs on Sunday from 8pm EST/5pm PST on NBC.

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Watch Ricky Gervais's controversial jokes at the 2011 Golden Globes below: