Comedian Kevin Hart is addressing the intense fallout over a highly controversial George Floyd joke told during his recent live Netflix comedy special. Sitting down with The Breakfast Club, the movie star and media mogul faced tough questions regarding the massive public backlash from social media, civil rights advocates, and George Floyd’s family.
As previously reported, the controversy erupted after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe took the stage at The Roast of Kevin Hart and made a joke referencing Floyd’s final moments, saying that Floyd was “looking up at us all laughing so hard he can’t breathe.”
Now, during Kevin’s sit-down interview, the well respected entertainer attempted to draw a clear line between personal respect and the unfiltered nature of comedy roasts. He went on to say that the environment of a roast is built on shock value and pushing boundaries, though he acknowledged the pain the segment caused.
“The George Floyd joke wasn’t a tasteful joke to our culture our audience, but if you’re watching the roast you get why they’re doing it; you get why the racial humor is on the table. I wasn’t shocked, like, that’s what they do. Go look at the Tom Brady one, that’s what they do. It happens every year. It’s not new.” He went on to say, “It’s not a new agenda, it’s not a new approach to comedy.”
When asked if he felt like Tony Hinchcliffe went too far, Kevin defended the fellow comedian and said he didn’t except anything more or less from him. In fact he went on to give him credit for having one of the best sets.
The backlash from George Floyd’s immediate family has been swift and deeply emotional. Speaking on The Breakfast Club network, George Floyd’s brother, Terrence Floyd, expressed profound disappointment, stating that the joke deeply impacted the family and specifically affected George’s young daughter, Gianna.
Representatives for the Gianna and George Floyd Foundation voiced disgust over what they described as a recurring obsession with using Floyd’s tragic death for entertainment. Floyd’s nephew, Brandon Williams, also expressed shock, noting that because Hart had seen their pain firsthand after the murder, the family expected the executive producer to protect them from such public mockery.
The internet remains heavily divided, with many fans criticizing Hart and Hinchcliffe for the live broadcast joke while others continue to defend the untouchable nature of a comedy roast.
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@KevinHart4real pulled up to The Breakfast Club and responded to the critics about his roast. “The George Floyd Joke wasn’t a tasteful joke”
Check out the full interview on @netflix pic.twitter.com/PNsvQ2MrI0
— The Breakfast Club (@breakfastclubam) May 26, 2026