Netflix recently released The Roast of Kevin Hart, a nearly three-hour-long comedy special filled with plenty of wild moments, some of which have taken over the internet for their controversial nature. Fansare having mixed feelings about the special, they feel that at times it crossed the line between humor and racism. These controversial jokes ranged from racially insensitive moments to jabs at fellow roasters’ political affiliations.
While the event was meant to be lighthearted, with little of what was said meant to be taken seriously, these remarks still made headlines. Here are some of the most shocking and talked-about moments from The Roast of Kevin Hart.
Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Johnson, a longtime friend and collaborator with Kevin Hart, made an appearance at the special, taking the stage to take shots at his Jumanji co-star. Johnson’s time on stage proved to be one of the most controversial of the night after he turned his jokes towards NBA player Draymond Green. While roasting Green, Johnson used the r-word, which shocked many. However, because of the nature of the event, some fans were able to overlook this. The thing that makes his use of the word more shocking is that, according to TMZ, Johnson is a childhood friend of Special Olympics athlete Milton Rosen.
Tony Hinchcliffe
Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe appeared as one of the roasters, and his involvement itself was controversial. Hinchcliffe has a history of inflammatory jokes, and he has received criticism for his politics. Hinchcliffe’s appearance at the event upset many, including some of his fellow roasters, but Hinchcliffe sparked one of the biggest controversies of the night after he made an insensitive joke about George Floyd. This remark caused outrage online and led to the family of Floyd to speak out against Hinchcliffe’s insensitive remarks.
Chelsea Handler
One of the most significant moments of the night occurred when comedian Chelsea Handlertook the stage, turning the focus away from Hart and towards the men on stage. Handler gave little focus to Hart, instead calling out the male comedians present, criticizing their politics, and their treatment of women. Handler went on to say that her fellow roasters would only go to the Middle East for a comedy special, referencing the controversial Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia last year, which featured multiple comedians present, including Hart, Pete Davidson, and Jeff Ross.
Audience Reactions
No one held back during this event, meaning nothing was off limits to joke about. Many fans feel that this led the comedians to go too far, particularly when making jokes about race. Many people across social media have criticized the show for being unfunny and offensive, especially considering the number of white comedians present and their treatment of their fellow Black comedians, including Sheryl Underwood, often making jokes about their appearance.
Comedian Michael Che, most known for his role on Saturday Night Live, was set to appear at the roast, but dropped out prior to the event. In a now-deleted post, Che took to Instagram to express his grievances with the event and the racial context behind the humor. Che stated that white and Black people joke differently, where Black people focus on appearance, white people tend to turn their jokes towards much more serious and sensitive topics such as systemic issues. Che has taken back his previous statement, apologizing and asking that fans respect his privacy.
While the jokes seem to have gone too far, the special was still a success, making it into Netflix’s top 10 shows list. Some feel this was a no holds barred night of comedy which called back to older styles of comedy similar to that of Dave Chappelle, but others felt that this approach was dated and insensitive. While the conversation about how audiences should receive this special is still ongoing, The Roast of Kevin Hart proved to be a night to remember, for better or for worse.
