Kevin Hart is standing by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe following the backlash over a George Floyd joke made during Netflix’s “The Roast of Kevin Hart” earlier this month.
Appearing on “The Breakfast Club” with host Charlamagne tha God on Tuesday, Mr. Hart defended the broader context of roast comedy while acknowledging the joke was not well received by all viewers.
Mr. Hinchcliffe, of “Kill Tony” podcast fame, said during his set, “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.”
“Yeah, the George Floyd joke, it wasn’t a tasteful joke to our culture, to our audience,” Mr. Hart said, adding that viewers who tuned in to a roast understand why racial humor is on the table. “I wasn’t shocked. That’s what they do. It happens every year when they do a roast. It’s not new.”
When Charlamagne pressed Mr. Hart on whether Mr. Hinchcliffe went “too far,” the “Ride Along” star did not back down. “It’s Tony Hinchcliffe,” he replied. “I don’t expect less. I don’t expect more.”
Mr. Hart also urged audiences not to hold him responsible for jokes made during the roast.
“Whatever the dialogue is, my rebuttal is simplicity. Remove me from it. I didn’t say it,” he said, adding, “Stop talking as if I said it.”
Mr. Hart also praised Mr. Hinchcliffe’s overall performance, saying he “arguably had the best set or one of the best sets” of the evening.
Travis Cains, a spokesperson for the Gianna and George Floyd Foundation, called Mr. Hinchcliffe a “racist comedian” and criticized Mr. Hart for laughing at the joke. “We are trying to rebuild things for our community and make things better in our community,” Mr. Cains said in a statement.
George Floyd’s brother, Terrence Floyd, also criticized Mr. Hart for not interjecting when the joke was told, previously telling “Breakfast Club” host Loren LoRosa that Mr. Hart should have brought “Will Smith energy” and pushed back on Mr. Hinchcliffe in the moment.
The controversy extended beyond Mr. Hinchcliffe’s set. Chelsea Handler, who was also among the night’s roasters, later called Mr. Hinchcliffe and show host Shane Gillis “racist,” “bigots” and “sexist.”
Mr. Hart also addressed comments made by comedian Pete Davidson, who targeted conservative commentator Charlie Kirk during his set.
“Pete had a great set, too,” Mr. Hart told Charlamagne. “Would I tell those jokes? No. But do I get why they’re being told? Yes.”
The Hollywood Reporter first reported Mr. Hart’s comments.
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