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Actor and comedian Ricky Gervais said Tuesday that the United Kingdom’s inheritance tax could motivate him enough to marry his longtime partner, Jane Fallon, after more than 40 years.
In an interview with Saga Magazine, Gervais was asked whether the UK tax, which takes up to 40% of a deceased person’s property and money if they are worth more than £325,000, could be a good reason to tie the knot with Fallon ever since their relationship began in 1982.
“It is,” Gervais said. “And that will be the reason I marry. We haven’t done it yet. But if it wasn’t for [tax]… why? It’s mad. How much more married can you be? We share all our money; we’ve been living together for 40 years. Some marriages don’t last a year.”
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Ricky Gervais and his partner Jane Fallon have been in a relationship for more than 40 years. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)
The UK allows an exception to the inheritance tax in the case of married couples, allowing couples to avoid the tax altogether so long as they are legally married. Cohabiting couples are not allowed to use this exception.
“It’s horrible, isn’t it? I’ve got to get around to marrying, before I die,” Gervais quipped.
Fox News Digital reached out to Gervais’ representatives for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Gervais’ comments came months after Fallon announced on Instagram that she was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. She has since undergone two surgeries and has documented her experiences on social media.
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Ricky Gervais said the inheritance tax was the only reason he could think of to get married. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
In a comment to Fox News Digital, CATO Institute Director of Tax Policy Studies Adam Michel said Gervais’ comments were not surprising and considered them a common worldwide perspective on wealth taxes.
“This is also a broader warning against proposals to impose annual wealth taxes,” Michel said. “An estate tax is a wealth tax levied just once at death. Annual wealth taxes apply a similar penalty every year.”
“Estate taxes also have broader economic costs, especially when wealth is tied up in businesses rather than sitting in cash,” he added. “And most wealth is in productive, ongoing businesses, not yachts and artwork. These costs explain the worldwide trend of countries repealing estate taxes.”
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Comedian Ricky Gervais has frequently spoken out against cancel culture. (David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Elsewhere during the interview, Gervais remarked that cancel culture had “peaked” after years of calling out woke mobs.
“Each generation tries to ‘outwoke’ the generation before; some things they’re right about, some things wrong, then we settle and go on until the next time,” Gervais said.
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“I can’t imagine what I’d have to say for my audience to cancel me, but cancel culture never really was about comedians that could sell millions of tickets,” he added. “It was about teachers and nurses who were losing their jobs because of an ideology.”