There is always an understanding with celebrity roasts that the jokes will go further than usual. But Tony Hinchcliffe’s set during Netflix’s The Roast of Kevin Hart has sparked a different kind of conversation, with George Floyd’s family now saying the comedian crossed a line that should have never been approached.
During the special, Hinchcliffe turned to Kevin Hart and said, “The Black community is so proud of you… right now George Floyd is looking up at us all laughing so hard he can’t breathe.” The remark quickly spread online, where many viewers questioned why Floyd’s final moments were being used as material in a comedy roast.
According to TMZ, a spokesperson for The Gianna & George Floyd Foundation described the joke as “sad for the culture.” Floyd’s relatives and close friends were reportedly upset that the subject was brought into the roast at all, especially given how public and painful his death remains for his family and community.
The foundation also pushed back against what it sees as a pattern of comedians returning to Floyd’s death for shock value. Their response was not just about one punchline, but about the larger issue of turning Black trauma into a recurring joke for mainstream entertainment.
The backlash did not stop with Floyd’s family. Comedian and actor Lil Rel Howery also criticised the moment, calling out both the joke and the audience reaction. Other viewers online argued that while roasts are built on offensive humour, there is still a difference between sharp comedy and material that feels careless or cruel.
Hinchcliffe has faced similar criticism before. During Netflix’s The Roast of Tom Brady in 2024, he made another George Floyd reference while joking about former NFL star Rob Gronkowski. That earlier moment has now resurfaced as part of the current backlash, with critics saying this is no longer an isolated controversy.
The conversation has also pulled Kevin Hart into the fallout. Floyd’s brother, Terrence Floyd, told TMZ that he felt Hart should have stepped in during the roast, especially because Hart had attended Floyd’s funeral in Minnesota.
For some viewers, the incident has reopened an old debate about comedy and boundaries. Roasts have always relied on discomfort, but the response to Hinchcliffe’s joke shows that audiences are still drawing lines around grief, race, and real-life violence. In this case, Floyd’s family is making it clear that his name should not be treated as an easy punchline.