The fallout from “The Roast of Kevin Hart” is continuing to spiral after Tony Hinchcliffe’s controversial George Floyd joke sparked outrage online and drew criticism from Floyd’s family, fellow comedians, and viewers alike. Now, Tiffany Haddish is being pulled into the conversation after she was asked directly about the backlash while leaving the star-studded Netflix event. While the comedian admitted she missed the joke entirely, her reaction to the growing controversy is still raising eyebrows online.
Haddish was stopped by TMZ following Sunday night’s Netflix roast event and asked directly about the joke that has since ignited criticism from George Floyd’s family, fellow comedians, and viewers online. However, the “Ride or Die” actress admitted she was distracted during the now-viral moment. According to Haddish, she had stepped away because she needed to use the bathroom and missed the joke entirely.
While she declined to directly address the George Floyd comment itself, Haddish did appear to react to the backlash surrounding the roast. The comedian suggested that many of the loudest critics are fellow comics who may simply be upset they were not included in the event.
Though Haddish didn’t elaborate further, her facial expression at the end of the interview appeared to hint at how she personally felt about the controversy surrounding the show.
The backlash erupted after Tony Hinchcliffe made a joke referencing Floyd during his set at the Netflix roast. “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 while roasting Kevin Hart.
Floyd died in May 2020 after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes during an arrest, despite Floyd repeatedly saying he could not breathe. His death, which was captured on video and widely shared online, sparked massive protests across the United States and around the world demanding police reform and racial justice.
The case became a defining cultural moment, fueling the Black Lives Matter movement and leading to widespread demonstrations against police brutality. In 2021, Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter in connection with Floyd’s death and was later sentenced to more than 20 years in prison.
George Floyd’s Family Reportedly Furious Over Tony Hinchcliffe Joke
Now, representatives connected to The Gianna and George Floyd Foundation are speaking out against the joke and criticizing both Hinchcliffe and Hart.
Travis Cains, a spokesperson for the foundation, told TMZ that Hart allegedly allowing the joke was “sad for the culture.” According to the foundation, Floyd’s family and friends are reportedly “baffled and disgusted” by Hinchcliffe’s repeated references to Floyd in comedy routines.
The criticism also comes after Hinchcliffe previously made another Floyd-related joke during “The Roast of Tom Brady.”
George Floyd Foundation Says Jokes Are Impacting His Daughter
The foundation also raised concerns about the impact these jokes could have on Floyd’s daughter, Gianna, who is now 12 years old. According to the organization, Gianna has reportedly experienced bullying at school, something they believe jokes like Hinchcliffe’s only worsen.
“We are trying to rebuild things for our community and make things better in our community,” the foundation said in a statement. “Let’s try to be a little bit more positive, and not sit up there doing colon inspections by white comedians.”
Lil Rel Howery Calls Tony Hinchcliffe’s Joke ‘Disgusting’
Comedian and actor Lil Rel Howery also publicly condemned the roast joke in a passionate Instagram post shared Tuesday morning. Lil Rel described the moment as “disgusting” and questioned why the audience did not react more strongly in the moment. The actor pointed out that the crowd loudly booed NBA star Draymond Green throughout the roast but remained silent during Hinchcliffe’s Floyd punchline.
Lil Rel Howery also said he could not understand why Hinchcliffe felt the joke was necessary in the first place, calling it “needless.” And as outrage surrounding the Netflix roast continues spreading online, neither Kevin Hart nor Tony Hinchcliffe has publicly responded to the criticism.
