Nothing is off limits in the world of roasting. Whether it be a formal roast or kids on the playground, this is a sentiment many seem to share. But is it really appropriate to make offensive jokes under the guise of “friendly fire”? This is a question on everyone’s mind following the Netflix special The Roast of Kevin Hart. During the comedy special, various jokes sparked outrage among audiences, specifically jokes making fun of violence against black people. Throughout the comedy special, various jokes about lynching, slavery, and similar horrific historical events were met with laughter, leaving audiences appalled.
Roasting is a unique genre of comedy that is based on making fun of others. In this genre, personal matters become comedic material and jokes many would consider hurtful can be considered friendly fire. The issue with this is where we draw the line between using taboo material for the sake of humour and simply making inappropriate or offensive jokes. Trevor Noah remarks that roasts are supposed to be done by people who know and love you and come from a place of love. This may be the factor that was missing in the roast of Kevin Hart. When white comedians used the hypothetical lynching of Hart as a joke on a public forum, it seems that the roasting may be better kept between friends and family. But there is a case to be made for roasting or dissing as a medium for expressing beef. The subgenre of battle rap highlights that well-crafted insults can be enjoyable for both those participating and those viewing.
If we are to use roasts as a medium for entertainment rather than harmless fun between friends, the question, then, should be: is anything off limits? Viewers of the roast on Reddit seem to be divided on the matter. Some argue that roasts are supposed to be aggressive, while others feel that white comedians have gotten too comfortable making racist jokes. Others comment that the real issue was not the subject matter but the fact that when you pick the jokes apart, they are hinged on shock value rather than being funny themselves.
The deciding factor when it comes to determining whether a joke is considered acceptable seems to lie in who is making the joke and what they are making fun of. Punching down refers to jokes that criticise or target someone in a worse or less powerful position, for example, a joke about a marginalised group that specifically targets aspects of their marginalisation. This type of joke is generally not considered funny due to the presence of a power imbalance between “roaster” and “roastee”. But the comedians at the roast were Hart’s peers, so why would this be an issue? Noah comments on the roast of Kevin Hart, remarking that it seemed to him that the jokes of white comedians targeted black people as a whole rather than Kevin Hart specifically. This was a major criticism of the roast.
This criticism seems to hold true for some jokes, including one made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe that used George Floyd’s death as comedy material. Floyd was a victim of police brutality who was murdered in 2020, but Hinchcliffe uses the man’s last words as the punchline of his joke, which received backlash from many viewers. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Floyd’s brother, Terrence, criticised Hart for not stepping in after the joke was made. Other views across social media shared similar sentiments as they expressed disapproval at Hart’s response, or lack thereof. This then begs the question – who do we hold accountable when inappropriate jokes are made: the comedian making the joke or those who laugh along?
Hart responded to criticism of the roast saying that some jokes, specifically the comments poking fun at George Floyd, were not tasteful. However, he goes on to excuse the comedy saying that hard-hitting jokes with shock factor potential are part of the specific comedy style and that such roasts are not new to comedy. He further responds to backlash by saying that viewers should stop acting as though he made the distasteful jokes himself. While Hart can be seen laughing at many of the jokes that audiences found offensive, he also stands firm that he did not get to approve or even read any of the jokes beforehand, which is the narrative that had been circulating.
Despite this, the question continues to persist. Who do we hold accountable: the comedian who wrote and prepared the joke or the audiences that laughed along? Where do we draw the line on what is and is not off limits? There is no clear answer to either of these questions, and maybe that is what makes roasting all the more controversial and entertaining.
