Ricky Gervais calls teenage bullfighter 'a little c***'

Michel Lagravere Peniche, the 'Justin Bieber of bullfighting', started his bull-fighting career at the age of five

Michel Lagravere Peniche started his bull-fighting career at the age of five (Reuters)

Those who consider bullfighting a fine tradition that burnishes the elegance and nobility of both man and beast, will not find Ricky Gervais joining their ranks any time soon.

Any such doubts to this were cleared up when the comedian took to social media on Thursday to use language that was neither elegant or noble to describe a French-Mexcian teenager who has been dubbed the “Justin Bieber of bullfighting”.

Indeed, according to Mr Gervais, Michel Lagravere Peniche, who started his bull-fighting career at the age of five, is nothing less than a “little c***.

(Getty Images)

The actor and comedian, whose honeyed tongue was recently on display as a host of the Golden Globe awards, found himself in something of an impassioned Twitter debate after posting an article about the teenager, with the aforementioned description.

Asked by one Twitter user if the bullfighter was not simply a product of the culture in which he grew up, Mr Gervais replied: "Yes. That's why everyone from that culture tortures animals. Oh no, wait..they don’t, some people are just c****."

When it was then suggested that some responsibility might lie with Mr Peniche’s parents, he responded by saying: “I know. That's why I used the word little. His parents are massive c****.”

It is reportedly not the first time Mr Gervais has spoken out against bullfighting. He has also been a staunch advocate on other animal rights issues.

In 2010, he posted a video on Youtube asking people to sign a petition to get bullfighting banned by the Catalonian Parliament.

Michel Lagravere Peniche, at the age of ten, started bull fighting when he was just five (AP)

Mr Gervais was also among many stars who expressed outrage over the killing of Cecil the lion and joined forces with the Humane Society.

Mr Peniche, who has reportedly killed more than 300 bulls during his career, once attempted a World Record of slaying six young bulls in a single fight. The teenager, who moved to Mexico because Spain does not permit bullfighters aged less than 16, does not have a Twitter account.