Joe Rogan defends Kevin Hart roast, rips comedians offended by jokes
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Podcaster Joe Rogan called out comedians who condemned the politically incorrect humor in the Kevin Hart Roast on Friday, arguing that they were disrespecting the art of comedy as a profession.
Hart’s recent temper has made waves with his no-holds-barred jokes that have outraged people across the political spectrum. Netflix’s recent specials have become famous for their panelists’ jokes about their divorces, dead relatives, and many other taboo topics. During the night, Tony Hinchcliffe made headlines by implying that George Floyd was watching the demonstration from hell, saying: “The black community is so proud of you right now. George Floyd is looking at all of us, laughing so hard he can’t breathe.”
Jokes like this and others caused a storm among comedians, especially in liberal circles or the Black community, who began criticizing Hart, arguing that he should have intervened in some way.
Rogan talked with fellow comedian Harland Williams about how much of the general public is unaware of how inherently cruel roasts can be, in part because they were phased out of American culture until recently.
“It’s been a long time in the zeitgeist, right? I mean, these things don’t exist for kids. Roast jokes are so bad. They’ve always been so bad,” Rogan said, adding that the late Patrice O’Neal could “eviscerate” an entire stadium with his biting humor.
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Podcaster Joe Rogan said it’s one thing for ordinary people unfamiliar with roast culture to be upset about the jokes told at the roast, but it’s another thing entirely for seasoned comedians to condemn it, arguing that they should know better and might show performative anger to get attention. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
“The thing is, if you’re a human being and you’re not used to roasts and you don’t understand why these jokes are so cruel, I understand that,” Rogan said. “But comedians – comedians who are pissed off by these jokes… F— completely back off. Go away, you fucking traitor. You know what this is. You know exactly what this is. You’re a fucking traitor. You’re just using this moment to elevate yourself, to tear down what’s going on.”
He continued, “You may disagree with the content. You may say, ‘I think they’ve gone too far with this.’ But to act like these people are actual racists and Nazis just because they’re telling these f—ing jokes? I mean, f— is complete bullshit.”
“Yes. If you don’t want to play hockey, don’t get dressed, go out and play hockey,” Williams said. “Sit in the queue. And don’t badmouth people who play hockey.”
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Comedian Kevin Hart got into a fight with radio host Charlamagne tha God and defended comedians who made jokes in his hugely popular and controversial roast. (Robin L Marshall/WireImage)
Rogan agreed, recalling, “By the way, you know who didn’t have a problem with that? Kevin f–ing Hart. Kevin f–ing Hart defended everyone who said anything about him – about him being lynched from the bonsai tree – and the craziest things they said.”
Harland acknowledged, “Well, you know, the people and companies that put it on corporate television, corporate broadcasts, who else doesn’t have a problem with that?”
Rogan argued that recent releases like this are some of the most popular content in Netflix history.
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Hart actually defended the roast during his interview with Charlamagne tha God, rejecting calls on behalf of the Black community that he should intervene to stop racially charged jokes.
Hart argued that Hinchcliffe’s controversial stand-up set was one of the best, if not the best, of the night. He reminded that jokes were made on behalf of his deceased parents that night, and he did not stop, and that he should not be held responsible for other people’s jokes.
When he said he had a positive phone call with a critic who was offended by a George Floyd joke and Charlamagne argued that he needed to lead it to show he cared, Hart responded, “I don’t need to prove to people that I’m f—ing!”
“Yes, it is,” Charlamagne replied.
“No, I don’t!” said Hart. “If you open that door, then it will be the door people have always been waiting for. Why do I need to do this?”
