Kevin Hart Stands Behind Tony Hinchcliffe's Controversial Netflix Roast Material

Kevin Hart has come to Tony Hinchcliffe's defense following backlash over jokes delivered during Netflix's The Roast of Kevin Hart.

The white comedian drew criticism for several bits during the special, with roaster Chelsea Handler calling portions of his material "racist." One of the most controversial moments came when Hinchcliffe referenced George Floyd, the man killed in May 2020 by former police officer Derek Chauvin, who is now serving concurrent federal and state prison sentences.

"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 roast.

Speaking on The Breakfast Club with Charlamagne tha God and Loren LoRosa on Tuesday, May 26, Hart addressed the firestorm while contextualizing the nature of roast comedy as a format.

"It wasn't a tasteful joke to our culture, to our audience, but our audience that's watching the roast, if you're watching the roast, you get why they're doing it," Hart explained. "You get why the racial humor is on the table. I wasn't shocked. Like, that's what they do. Go look at the Tom Brady one. Like, that's what they do. It happens every year when they do a roast. It's not new. This isn't a new. It's not a new agenda. It's not a new approach to comedy."

When asked by Charlamagne whether Hinchcliffe had crossed a line with the George Floyd material, Hart made clear he wasn't taken aback by the comedian's approach.

"It's Tony Hinchcliffe. Like, I don't expect less, I don't expect more," Hart said.

The Ride Along star maintained that boundary-pushing remains central to what audiences anticipate from the roast format. Hart also credited Hinchcliffe with delivering one of the evening's strongest performances, referencing another controversial moment when Pete Davidson made remarks about Charlie Kirk.

"Like, would I tell those jokes? No. But do I get why they're being told? Yes. Like, I'm not looking at Pete crazy. I'm not looking at Tony crazy. Like, that's what I know what you're going to do. I know your style of comedy," Hart said.

Handler had previously criticized both Hinchcliffe and another comedian from the roast for delivering material she deemed offensive.