Chelsea Handler condemned Shane Gillis’ lynching joke from Netflix’s “The Roast of Kevin Hart,” calling it “gross” and “worse than rape,” while also criticizing Tony Hinchcliffe’s joke about the suicide of Sheryl Underwood’s husband.
The moment the punchline landed, Chelsea Handler says she felt it in her stomach—“ick,” “gross,” and ultimately something she believes crossed a line she can’t laugh away.
On “Funny Knowing You” with Deon Cole. Handler weighed in on material from “The Roast of Kevin Hart. ” after participating in her first major high-profile comedy roast on Netflix earlier this month. She went after Shane Gillis’ “lynching Black people” joke. made during the roast. and described the topic as “worse than rape.”.
Handler said her expectations for the men on the dais were low—she pointed to reputations she called “racist” and “sexist.” But she stressed that she wasn’t bothered by everything. She told the show she didn’t take issue with the men going after her age and sexual history. saying. “I’m rich. I’m famous and I’m hot.” The problem. for her. was the racially charged material.
“It was ick. It was gross,” Handler said. “I don’t find those jokes to be funny. Jokes about lynching Black people. Like, lynching is not a joke. That’s worse than rape.”
She kept pushing the comparison, drawing a sharp contrast between dark humor and harm. “Like, you’re not joking about rape, are you?. Are you saying. ‘I’m going to go rape you?’ You know you can’t do that. but you can say lynching?. … People are like, ‘It’s a roast. You go for it.’ I’m like, you can go for it without being gross.”.
At “The Roast of Kevin Hart. ” Gillis targeted Hart’s height. suggesting “they’re gonna have to lynch him from a bonsai tree.” Since then. Gillis has expressed regret over the comment. saying he “could’ve done without it.” In a statement to TheWrap. he added. “This is a big moment for Chelsea. I am glad she’s capitalizing. Good for her. We’re all rooting for her. Anyway come see me July 17th at the football stadium in Philly.”.
Handler’s critique didn’t stop with Gillis. She also took issue with Tony Hinchcliffe’s joke about the suicide of Sheryl Underwood’s husband. Handler said, “If she says she’s fine with that, she’s fine with that. I wasn’t fine with that. I thought that was disgusting, too.”
She later explained how she planned to handle the overall tone when she appeared on the show. “But there was so much disgustingness that I knew it was going to be such a like. gross vibe. ” Handler said. “Then I would be able to elevate it no problem. And that’s what I went to do. I was like. ‘All right. well. I’ll pick it up because they’re going to try and bring it down.’ And Kevin didn’t deserve that. He deserved like, an elevated roast.”.
“The Roast of Kevin Hart” is available to stream on Netflix.
Chelsea Handler Shane Gillis Kevin Hart roast Netflix Deon Cole Funny Knowing You Tony Hinchcliffe Sheryl Underwood lynching joke comedy roast controversy
Wow. I don’t even get how lynching jokes are “roast” material. Gross is right.
roasts are literally supposed to be mean though? like everyone knows that. but “worse than rape” is a wild comparison, not even sure she’s right on that part. also I feel like Netflix edits stuff anyway so idk.
I saw the headline and figured she was just doing the usual “outrage for clicks,” but the whole lynching thing is just… nope. like people always say “it’s comedy” but comedy doesn’t have to be that. Also the suicide joke?? that’s not even remotely the same lane. but yeah she said she didn’t mind jokes about her body or whatever, so I guess she’s picking her battles.
Shane Gillis should’ve apologized harder like straight up, not that weak “could’ve done without it” line. And Chelsea acting like she’s some moral judge when she’s on Netflix doing roasts too… come on. Also I don’t think lynching is “worse than rape” math wise, it’s just different kinds of disgusting. but her point is still right that some jokes go too far. why do they keep letting the same comedians say the dumbest stuff and call it art??