Comedian Ricky Gervais defended himself against liberal criticism after many conservative fans extolled him for his recent Golden Globes monologue excoriating Hollywood.

"I’ve noticed a couple of tweets criticising me for 'accepting' new followers who are the 'opposite' of me," the 58-year-old Gervais tweeted Friday. "Christian, conservative, pro life, pro gun, reactionaries. Of course I accept them. To err is human, to forgive divine. It’s what Jesus would do. Dog Bless all my followers." Gervais, who is an atheist, appended to the tweet a photo of himself being licked by a dog.

I’ve noticed a couple of tweets criticising me for “accepting” new followers who are the “opposite” of me. Christian, conservative, pro life, pro gun, reactionaries. Of course I accept them. To err is human, to forgive divine. It’s what Jesus would do. Dog Bless all my followers. pic.twitter.com/25iufHbQjs — Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 10, 2020

He followed with the assertion, "If you don’t believe in free speech for people who you disagree with, and even hate for what they stand for, then you don’t believe in free speech."

[Related: 'Big old hairy balls': Ricky Gervais says his Halloween costume will be ‘brave female activist Jessica Yaniv’]

If you don’t believe in free speech for people who you disagree with, and even hate for what they stand for, then you don’t believe in free speech. — Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 10, 2020

Gervais scolded the Hollywood elite during the 77th Annual Golden Globes last weekend, asserting they "know nothing about the real world" and should refrain from using the ceremony as a political platform to lecture the public. "If you win, come up, accept your little award, thank your agent and your God, and f--- off," he advised.

[Opinion: Hollywood proved Ricky Gervais's point]

He further jabbed the star-studded audience for their perceived moral hypocrisy, joking they would happily work for the Islamic State for the right price, while also highlighting their ties to disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and the late convicted sex offender billionaire Jeffrey Epstein.

[Also read: ‘Murder and strangulation’: Forensic pathologist claims Epstein autopsy photos show foul play]

Gervais faced backlash from some who accused him of being "right-wing" after his scathing monologue, to which The Office actor responded Wednesday, "I didn't roast Hollywood for being a bunch of liberals. I myself am a liberal. Nothing wrong with that. I roasted them for wearing their liberalism like a medal. I'm such a snowflake, liberal, I can't even really hate them for it. But my job is to take the piss. I did that."

I didn't roast Hollywood for being a bunch of liberals. I myself am a liberal. Nothing wrong with that. I roasted them for wearing their liberalism like a medal. I'm such a snowflake, liberal, I can't even really hate them for it. But my job is to take the piss. I did that. 😇 pic.twitter.com/bYwqxiyeKu — Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) January 8, 2020

Gervais is no stranger to controversy, having also mocked transgender activist Jessica Yaniv last summer when she sued a salon in Canada that refused to wax her testicles. "I was going to dress up as something weird and creepy for my Halloween party, but I’m bucking the trend this year and I’m going as brave female activist Jessica Yaniv," Gervais tweeted. "This also means I don’t have to wax my big old hairy balls."

"It's a sad state of affairs when a lady can't have her hairy balls waxed," he reflected.