Kevin Hart is defending the controversial humor featured in Netflix’s recent “Roast of Kevin Hart” after backlash erupted over jokes about George Floyd made during the special.
Speaking Tuesday on “The Breakfast Club,” Hart said audiences should understand that roast comedy often includes provocative material, even if he personally would not make the same jokes himself.
The criticism centered on comments made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who referenced Floyd’s death during his set. Floyd died in 2020 after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes, sparking worldwide protests and renewed conversations about racial injustice.
Hart called the joke “not tasteful to our culture” but said roast audiences expect comedians to push boundaries.
“Would I tell those jokes? No, but do I get why they’re being told? Yes,” Hart said during the interview.
The comedian also rejected criticism that he should be held responsible for material delivered by other performers during the event.
“What do you want me to do? Drag him off?” Hart said, adding that his role was to produce a successful roast rather than censor comics onstage.
The fallout has extended beyond social media criticism. Floyd’s family publicly condemned the joke, while fellow comedians, including Chelsea Handler and Sheryl Underwood, criticized parts of the special as racially insensitive and unnecessarily offensive.
Handler described Hinchcliffe and other comedians involved in the roast as “racist” and “sexist” during a podcast appearance, triggering an ongoing public feud between several comics connected to the event.
Despite the controversy, Hart defended the overall production and praised Hinchcliffe’s performance, calling it one of the strongest sets of the night.
