Netflix is facing backlash after airing “The Roast of Kevin Hart” during the “Netflix Is a Joke” comedy festival. The comedy special featured several controversial jokes, including one referencing George Floyd, which has sparked outrage online and renewed debates about roast comedy and offensive humor.
George Floyd Joke Draws Strong Reactions
During the roast, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe ended his set with a joke many viewers considered deeply offensive.
“The Black community is so proud of you… right now George Floyd is looking up at us all, laughing so hard he can’t breathe,” Hinchcliffe said during the event.
The joke referenced Floyd’s 2020 death, which became a major moment in the Black Lives Matter movement and sparked worldwide protests against police brutality.
While Kevin Hart laughed during the roast alongside many guests in attendance, reactions online quickly became divided.
Critics Say the Joke Went Too Far
Activist Tamika Mallory strongly criticized both the joke and the audience reaction.
“There is literally NOTHING funny about how George Floyd was murdered,” Mallory wrote on Instagram. “Allowing that white man or any other man to stand up there and disrespect Us, while laughing, is disgusting.”
She added that many Black Americans remain deeply traumatized by Floyd’s death and believe the subject should never be used for comedy.
Debate Over Roast Comedy Continues
Others defended the tradition of roast comedy, arguing that the format has always involved offensive and shocking jokes.
Comedian and writer Franchesca Ramsey addressed the controversy on Threads, saying people are allowed to dislike controversial jokes.
“If your perspective as a comedian is ‘nothing is off limits,’ that means you accept that some jokes will offend people,” Ramsey wrote. “People not liking racist jokes aren’t ruining comedy.”
Podcast host Chad Deshawn also weighed in, saying many Black audiences grew up with roasting culture and understood the style of humor involved.
Kevin Hart Defends the Roast
After the backlash grew online, Hart defended the event in a video posted to social media.
“That, my friends, is what the f— a roast is supposed to be,” Hart said.
“It’s hard-hitting, relentless jokes of no consequence,” he continued. “People are coming in looking for the shock factor.”
Hart argued that roast comedy is intentionally extreme and audiences should expect offensive material in that setting.
Floyd Family Responds to the Joke
Representatives for Floyd’s family also responded publicly. According to a statement shared with TMZ by Travis Cains of The Gianna and George Floyd Foundation, the family found Hart’s support of the joke disappointing.
The statement pointed out that Floyd’s daughter, Gianna, who was six years old when her father died, continues to face bullying connected to public jokes and discussions surrounding his death.
The family urged entertainers and audiences to focus on positivity rather than making jokes about traumatic events.
Celebrity-Filled Event Draws Attention
“The Roast of Kevin Hart” featured appearances from several major celebrities, including:
- Dwayne Johnson
- Tom Brady
- Chelsea Handler
- Pete Davidson
- Lizzo
- Katt Williams
Usher opened the show, while stars like Jennifer Lopez, Serena Williams, and Venus Williams attended the event.
Controversy Keeps Growing Online
As clips from the roast continue spreading online, debates around comedy, race, free speech, and sensitivity remain heated.
Some viewers argue that roast comedy should remain uncensored, while others believe certain topics — especially tragedies involving real victims — should not be used for entertainment.
The controversy has now become one of the most talked-about moments from Netflix’s comedy festival this year.
