Chelsea Handler clashed with fellow roasters Shane Gillis and Tony Hinchcliffe after the Netflix roast of Kevin Hart, calling their material racist and a disservice to the man they were supposed to celebrate.
Handler made her feelings clear during an appearance on Deon Cole’s show. It’s funny knowing you podcast, where she said she was disgusted by jokes that included references to the mob and a quip about Sheryl Underwood’s late husband, who died by suicide.
Those watching the roast could already sense that she wasn’t happy, her own time on the mic made that clear enough, but she was much more direct in the podcast interview.
Handler was clear that his problem wasn’t the jokes aimed at him.
She described research into her age and sex life as lazy but largely inconsequential.
What she couldn’t stand, she said, was what she called simple racism disguised as bold comedy.
She only agreed to participate in the roast, she explained, because of her longtime friendship with Hart, dating back to his eponymous sketch series in the 2000s, and she felt he deserved much better from his fellow performers.
Her goal, she said, was to try to “elevate” the show.
She and Cole also found common ground on a broader concern, which is that a growing number of comedians are testing the limits of basic decency rather than true comedic craft, emboldened by the current cultural climate around anti-woke sentiment.
The roast had already sparked controversy before Handler’s comments.
As TMZ According to reports, George Floyd’s family expressed fury over a joke Hinchcliffe made about the late civil rights figure, including during the second roast during which he made such a reference.
Hinchcliffe has not publicly responded to Handler’s criticism.
Gillis, however, had an answer ready.
“It’s a big moment for Chelsea,” he said. TMZ. “I’m glad she’s capitalizing. Good for her. We all support her. Either way, come see me July 17 at the Philadelphia Football Stadium.”
