Wanda Sykes has expressed no regrets about opting out of participating in the roast of Kevin Hart, Thejasminebrand reports.
- June 14, 2026
AceShowbiz - Wanda Sykes has expressed no regrets about opting out of participating in the roast of Kevin Hart, Thejasminebrand reports. This revelation comes amid ongoing discussions about the roast's controversial content and the comedian’s outspoken criticism of the event’s tone.
Before the roast was publicly announced, Kevin Hart personally invited Wanda Sykes to join the lineup. However, she chose to attend a Los Angeles Sparks WNBA game instead, Yahoo also reported, highlighting her deliberate decision to skip the event. Deadline and Variety further confirm that Wanda declined the Netflix special, which took place at the Kia Forum and was hosted by Shane Gillis, citing dissatisfaction with the writing. She criticized the roast’s humor as lazy and repetitive, relying heavily on sexist, racist, and homophobic jokes. Variety adds that other comedians like Chelsea Handler also condemned the show’s controversial material, specifically pointing to offensive jokes made by Tony Hinchcliffe and Shane Gillis.
Wanda Sykes is widely known for her work as a co-star and writer on "The Chris Rock Show," and she boasts a diverse filmography including appearances in The New Adventures of Old Christine, Monster-In-Law, and Barnyard. She has earned multiple award nominations throughout her career, notably for comedy and acting roles in television.
This stance from Wanda underscores an important conversation within the comedy community about the boundaries of humor and the responsibility of roasts to evolve beyond recycled and harmful stereotypes. Her decision to skip the event and speak out reflects a growing demand for more thoughtful, inclusive comedy in high-profile settings.
This article is based on reporting originally published by Thejasminebrand.