Lil Rel Slams George Floyd Joke at Kevin Hart Roast

The Roast of Kevin Hart was a night of no-holds-barred comedy, but for comedian Lil Rel Howery, one joke went way too far. While many performers delivered, Howery found a particular joke by Tony Hinchcliffe about George Floyd to be completely out of line and, frankly, disgusting.

A Joke That Didn’t Land

Howery, who missed the live event due to filming, caught up on the roast later and praised many of the comedians, including Kevin Hart himself. However, he couldn’t get past Hinchcliffe’s remarks about George Floyd. “What I am annoyed by… I don’t understand, it’s one thing to roast the people that’s there,” Howery stated in an Instagram video.

He continued, “Tony Hinchcliffe’s joke about George Floyd didn’t make f—ing sense to me. It was no reason to bring George Floyd into this. It was just disgusting.” For Howery, the joke lacked any comedic purpose and was simply offensive, especially given the tragic circumstances of Floyd’s death.

Questioning the Audience’s Reaction

Adding to his frustration, Howery pointed out what he saw as a double standard in the audience’s reaction. He noted that the crowd seemed to boo Draymond Green whenever he was mentioned, yet didn’t react similarly to Hinchcliffe’s joke about George Floyd. “The audience was OK boo’ing Draymond Green every time his name was mentioned,” he questioned, “But you don’t boo Tony Hinchcliffe right after that?”

This perceived lack of outrage from the audience over a joke about a figure like George Floyd struck Howery as particularly baffling and disappointing. It raises questions about what topics are considered off-limits and how audiences respond to different kinds of humor.

Wider Backlash and Family Statement

Lil Rel Howery isn’t alone in his criticism. The joke also drew significant backlash from other comedians, including Loni Love, and others online. Furthermore, George Floyd’s family released a statement expressing their hope for “a little bit more positive” discourse, highlighting the impact such jokes can have on those directly affected.