AceShowbiz - Kevin Hart recently addressed the controversy surrounding his Netflix roast special, where racially charged jokes sparked widespread debate. Despite the backlash, Kevin Hart made it clear that he is not apologizing for comments he did not make during the event.

The controversy centered on a joke referencing George Floyd and his final words, delivered by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe. The joke received immediate criticism, particularly from the Black community and Floyd’s family, who condemned the remarks as distasteful and offensive.

During an appearance on The Breakfast Club, Hart defended the nature of roast comedy, explaining that roasts often include edgy racial humor and operate under different expectations than other formats. He acknowledged the George Floyd joke was offensive to many, but emphasized that it was not his own material.

Rather than condemning Hinchcliffe, Hart praised his performance, suggesting that he delivered one of the best sets of the evening despite the controversy. “Tony Hinchcliffe arguably had the best set,” he noted, highlighting the complexity of judging comedy in a roast setting.

Kevin Hart also responded to calls for him to have reacted differently during the live event. Since he was the producer of the roast and it was broadcast live, he questioned what alternative actions critics expected from him in the moment.

The comedian urged that the backlash should focus on those who actually made the offensive jokes, such as Hinchcliffe and fellow comic Shane Gillis, rather than blaming him for remarks he did not deliver. “Remove me from it. I didn’t say it,” he stated.

Following the controversy, Hart privately spoke with former NBA player Stephen Jackson, who was a close friend of George Floyd, to discuss the situation. Despite the ongoing debate surrounding the roast, the special reportedly surged to the top of Netflix’s streaming rankings.

Several other comedians, including Chelsea Handler, publicly criticized parts of the roast, viewing it as a platform that allowed racist rhetoric under the cover of comedy. However, Hart reiterated that he was not responsible for the content of other performers’ sets and that the focus should remain on those who made the offensive remarks.

In summary, Kevin Hart defended the roast format and distanced himself from the controversial jokes made by others during the event. He emphasized that since he did not deliver the offensive material, the outrage should be directed at the individuals who did.

This article is based on reporting originally published by AllHipHop.