Kevin Hart has drawn a hard boundary on who should never be the target of a comedy roast, saying Oprah Winfrey is off-limits. During an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Wednesday, Hart talked about possible future candidates for Netflix’s roast specials and initially suggested LeBron James because of his cultural prominence. But when Jimmy Kimmel floated Oprah’s name, Hart immediately rejected the idea, comparing it to “spray painting the Sistine Chapel” and joking that he would rush to her house at 100 miles per hour to stop it. He made clear that, in his view, Oprah should never take part in a roast.
Hart’s remarks came less than a month after he endured a three-hour roasting of his own during the Netflix Is a Joke Festival. The special featured jokes from comedians and celebrity friends including Chelsea Handler, Pete Davidson and Katt Williams, along with surprise appearances by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Tom Brady. Hart said Johnson was the one person who truly caught him off guard during the event.
He explained that Johnson used photos of both of their fathers as part of a joke, which made the moment especially personal. Johnson showed a flattering image of his late father, Rocky Johnson, while displaying an unflattering mug shot-style photo of Hart’s late father, Henry Robert Witherspoon. Hart said the contrast was what made the joke hit hardest, calling it the worst picture he had ever seen of his father.
The comedian also addressed recent criticism over one of the roast’s more controversial jokes. Tony Hinchcliffe, who performed during the special, made a reference to George Floyd that drew backlash online. Chelsea Handler later described the material as racist. Hart defended the joke in a separate interview on “The Breakfast Club,” saying that while the line may not have been tasteful for some audiences, people watching a roast understand the format and expect racial humor to be part of it. He said he was not shocked by the joke and emphasized that such material is what roasts are built around.
Hart’s comments highlight both the boundaries he believes should exist in comedy and his willingness to accept the harshness of the roast format when it is aimed at him. But when it comes to Oprah Winfrey, he made it clear that he sees her as too iconic and respected to be turned into a punchline.
