Netflix Aired “The Roast Of Kevin Hart,” Bringing Lots Of High-Shock-Value, Offensive, And At Times Racist Jokes That Have Viewers Reeling
George Floyd’s family is among those speaking out after a joke about his death aired during Netflix’s “The Roast of Kevin Hart.”
The special aired Sunday, May 10, as part of the Netflix Is a Joke comedy festival. The roast featured Kevin Hart alongside several major celebrities and comedians, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Tom Brady, Chelsea Handler, Pete Davidson, Lizzo, Katt Williams, Sheryl Underwood, Regina Hall and Tony Hinchcliffe.
During his set, Hinchcliffe referenced Floyd’s death and said, “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.”
The comment quickly drew criticism from viewers who said the joke went beyond roast comedy and made light of Floyd’s 2020 death at the hands of Minneapolis police.
Tony Hinchcliffe made a WILD George Floyd joke while roasting Kevin Hart 💀
— Killa 🌺 (@KillaKreww) May 11, 2026
“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.” pic.twitter.com/33T2anzhja
Family Says The Joke Was “Sad For The Culture”
Travis Cains, a spokesperson for The Gianna and George Floyd Foundation, told TMZ that Hart’s reaction to the joke was “sad for the culture.” TMZ reported that Floyd’s family and friends felt Hart should have made it clear that Floyd’s death should not be used as material in the roast.
The family also pointed to Hinchcliffe’s past jokes referencing Floyd and said they did not understand why the subject was allowed on stage again. According to the provided article, the family said Floyd’s daughter, Gianna, who was 6 when her father died, is now 12 and has been bullied in school as public jokes about her father continue.
“We are trying to rebuild things for our community and make things better in our community,” the family said, before urging people to be more positive.
Online Reaction Centers On Race, Comedy And Grief
The joke also drew criticism from activists and entertainers online.
Activist Tamika Mallory wrote on Instagram, “literally NOTHING funny” about Floyd’s murder and said many people are still deeply scarred by what happened.
Comedian and actress Franchesca Ramsey also weighed in, saying that if comedians believe nothing is off limits, they should also accept that some jokes will offend people. She added that people not liking racist jokes does not mean they are “ruining comedy.”
Others defended the tradition of roast comedy, arguing that the format has always relied on harsh, uncomfortable and offensive jokes. But for many viewers, the issue was not simply that the joke was offensive. It was that Floyd’s death remains tied to real trauma, racial violence and a child still living with the public weight of her father’s murder.
Kevin Hart Defends The Roast Format
Since the special aired, Hart has defended the roast as a comedy format built around hard hitting jokes.
In a video posted to social media, Hart said the special was what a roast is supposed to be, describing it as “hard hitting” comedy with “no consequence.” He said viewers come to roasts expecting shock value and strong reactions.
Sheryl Underwood also addressed the reaction during an appearance on “The Breakfast Club,” saying, “Specifically, true roast comedy is not for mainstream domain.” She argued that comedy can sometimes be used to talk through difficult issues, even when people disagree with how far the jokes go.
Still, Floyd’s family made clear that for them, the joke did not land as comedy. It landed as another public reminder of a death that reshaped national conversations on policing, race and justice.
