“The Roast of Kevin Hart” is over, but Chelsea Handler is still chasing some comics on stage.
More than a week after the live Netflix event, the former late-night show host took issue with many of the jokes made by host Shane Gillis and performer Tony Hinchcliffe, calling them “racist” and “sexist.”
“I knew about Tony Hinchcliffe and Shane (Gillis) and their backgrounds,” Handler told Deon Cole on the “Funny Knowing You” podcast. She said Gillis’ ex-girlfriends contacted her with information about the comic before the roast. When Cole asked Handler for more details, she spoke more broadly about Gillis and Hinchcliffe.
“That they’re racist, that they’re bigots, that they’re sexist, that’s all we know,” Handler said. “They think they are invincible.”
Gillis and Hinchcliffe were among the other comedians who told breathtaking jokes on “The Roast of Kevin Hart.” Handler quoted Gillis’ joke, saying that Hart “would have to be lynched from a bonsai tree because he’s short.” (Gillis joked on stage that the joke required “three weeks of thought.”)
“It was terrible. I don’t think those jokes are funny. They’re jokes about lynching black people,” Handler said. “Lynching is not a joke. It’s worse than rape. You’re not kidding about rape, right? … I know you can’t do that, but can you say ‘lynching’?”
Gillis and Hinchcliffe also joked about fellow roast comedian Sheryl Underwood’s late husband, who died by suicide in 1990. Gillis justified the joke by assuring the audience that he would call Underwood ahead of time to clear up the topic.
“I caught them making fun of Sheryl Underwood’s dead husband who committed suicide (gross),” Handler said. “If she says it’s okay, then she’s okay with it. I wasn’t okay with that. I didn’t want that either.”
She added, “There was so much hate. We knew it was going to be such a bad atmosphere that we could elevate it, no problem. … Kevin didn’t deserve it. He should have been elevated more.”
In response to her comments, Gillis issued the following statement to Variety: “This is a big moment for Chelsea. I’m happy for her. Good for her. We’re all rooting for her. Anyway, come see us at the Philadelphia football stadium on July 17th.”
Hours after the Call’s podcast episode with Handler started, Gillis posted his own podcast episode with Underwood. The two bonded over the roast, and Underwood reaffirmed that she wasn’t offended by jokes about her late husband.
“Sometimes humor is important,” Underwood said. “It’s the most unpleasant kind of humor that reduces tension and stress.”
