Comedians face backlash for jokes that hit too close to home

A recent comedy event meant to celebrate Kevin Hart’s career took a sharp turn when two comedians crossed lines with jokes about race and tragedy. Tony Hinchcliffe joked about George Floyd, a Black man whose death during police restraint sparked global protests, saying Floyd was "laughing so hard he can’t breathe. " Meanwhile, Shane Gillis made a comment about lynching, referencing Hart’s height by saying he was "so short they’ll have to lynch him from a bonsai tree. " Sheryl Underwood, a fellow comedian and close friend of Hart’s, didn’t find the humor in these jokes. She called the material disrespectful, especially since it targeted Floyd—a man whose death became a symbol of racial injustice—and Gillis’ reference to lynching, a violent part of American history tied to racism. Underwood even joked about confronting Hinchcliffe, saying she’d tell him, "You gotta deal with the Floyd family—and they got hands. " She admitted that while some roasts push boundaries, these jokes didn’t sit right with audiences. The controversy didn’t stop there. Hinchcliffe and Gillis also made jokes about Underwood’s late husband, who died by suicide in 1990. Though Underwood laughed in the moment, she later admitted the jokes were in poor taste. Both comedians had warned her beforehand, and she even gave them the go-ahead, saying, "They better be funny. " But the execution fell flat for many, including Chelsea Handler, who called out the jokes as racist and offensive on a podcast. "Lynching Black people is not a joke, " she said. "It’s worse than rape. "Gillis, however, defended his approach, releasing a statement through his rep that dismissed criticism as an opportunity for Handler to gain attention. He also invited her to his upcoming show, adding, "Anyway, come see me July 17th at the football stadium in Philly. " The clash highlights a bigger debate in comedy: How far is too far when pushing boundaries? Some argue that roasts thrive on shock value, while others believe certain topics—like race, violence, or personal loss—should never be fair game. The event also sparked wider conversations about who gets to make these jokes and why. Michael Che, a comedian who pulled out of the roast, pointed out that the writing team for the event was all white, suggesting a disconnect in perspective. His Instagram post mocked the idea of white comedians relying on heavy topics like slavery or family secrets for humor, while Black comedians might focus on lighter, more relatable jabs. At its core, the backlash reflects growing awareness about what’s acceptable in comedy. Jokes that rely on pain—whether it’s racial trauma, personal grief, or historical violence—risk alienating audiences more than they entertain.