Tony Hinchcliffe told Kevin Hart at his roast that George Floyd is laughing so hard that he can’t breathe, sparking outrage and anger [VIDEO]
The comedian made light of George Floyd’s final words during the Netflix live special as the audience gasped and laughed
Tony Hinchcliffe delivered a joke about George Floyd during Netflix’s live “The Roast of Kevin Hart” on May 10 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. The line referenced Floyd’s final words: “I can’t breathe.”
Hinchcliffe has made George Floyd jokes before. So, told one to Hart. When he did, the audience reacted with audible gasps mixed with laughter. Hart laughed visibly onstage. No one interrupted the set.
The Floyd family has since condemned the joke. Terrence Floyd, George Floyd’s brother, called it “tasteless.” The Gianna and George Floyd Foundation demanded accountability from Hinchcliffe, Hart, and Netflix.
Hinchcliffe’s History of George Floyd References at Netflix Roasts
This was not the first time Hinchcliffe referenced George Floyd during a Netflix roast. During the 2024 “Roast of Tom Brady,” he joked that Rob Gronkowski “looked like the final boss in George Floyd: The Video Game.” That line also circulated on social media but did not generate the same level of backlash.
Hinchcliffe is known for his role as co-host of the “Kill Tony” podcast and for a comedy style that pushes boundaries. He has built a career on material that many comedians avoid, often targeting sensitive topics with what he has described as equal-opportunity offense. The Floyd joke at Hart’s roast fit that pattern.
The 2026 roast marked Hinchcliffe’s second time using Floyd’s death as punchline material on a Netflix stage. But the context was different this time. The audience at the Kia Forum included Hart’s family, friends, and a who’s who of Black comedy and entertainment.
George Floyd’s Family: “Tasteless” and “Sad for the Culture”
The Gianna and George Floyd Foundation issued a statement through spokesperson Travis Cains. He described Hinchcliffe as a “racist comedian” and said Kevin Hart’s decision to allow the joke was “sad for the culture.” Cains added, “We are trying to rebuild things for our community and make things better in our community. Let’s try to be a little bit more positive — and not sit up there doing colon inspections by white comedians.”
Terrence Floyd, George Floyd’s brother, told interviewers that the family’s disappointment was heightened because Hart had attended Floyd’s memorial service in Minneapolis. He said Hart should have intervened in the moment, drawing a parallel to Will Smith’s actions at the 2022 Oscars, and criticized Netflix producers for not editing the material.
Terrence Floyd also highlighted the personal impact on family members, including Floyd’s daughter Gianna, who was six years old when her father died and is now twelve. He said she has faced bullying in school related to ongoing public references to her father’s death. The family found the implication of Floyd “looking up” — interpreted by some as suggesting an afterlife location associated with punishment — particularly disturbing.
Stephen Jackson, Tamika Mallory, and Others Condemn the Joke
Stephen Jackson, the former NBA player and longtime friend of George Floyd, addressed the joke on social media. “Everybody laughing until it’s their family member that gets murdered, then it ain’t funny,” he wrote. Jackson has been one of Floyd’s most vocal advocates since his death in 2020.
Activist Tamika D. Mallory and rapper Sukihana also publicly criticized the remarks. On May 14, approximately a dozen Black community advocates and leaders from the Twin Cities gathered to denounce the special. They described the joke as not a laughing matter and demanded a public apology from Hinchcliffe, a public response from Hart, and accountability from Netflix.
Lil Rel Howery, a comedian and actor who did not participate in the roast, posted an Instagram video calling the joke “disgusting.” He questioned why the audience did not boo Hinchcliffe offstage. “There’s no reason to bring George Floyd into this,” he said.
D.L. Hughley and Joe Budden Weigh In on the Controversy
D.L. Hughley criticized Hinchcliffe’s material. This included both the George Floyd joke and a separate reference to Sheryl Underwood’s late husband, who died by suicide. Hughley connected the incident to Hinchcliffe’s 2024 appearance at Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden, where Hinchcliffe made a remark about Puerto Rico that drew widespread condemnation. Hughley described perceived inconsistencies in debates over free speech in comedy.
Joe Budden referred to Hinchcliffe as a “racist piece of […]” on his podcast and questioned why he was invited to participate in what Budden described as a Black celebration. “This is a room full of Black excellence, and you got this guy up there making jokes about George Floyd,” Budden said. “Make it make sense.”
Michael Blackson, who did not attend the event, directly addressed Hinchcliffe in a response that functioned as a counter-roast. Sheryl Underwood, who participated in the roast and was the target of a separate joke about her husband’s suicide, discussed the George Floyd material during an appearance on the Rickey Smiley Morning Show. She acknowledged the difficulty of hearing jokes about deceased loved ones while addressing the broader outrage.
Kevin Hart Defends the Roast Format, Hinchcliffe Silent
Kevin Hart addressed the roast in a subsequent Instagram video. He described the event as “what the […] a roast is supposed to be — hard-hitting, relentless jokes… No emotion, no [..] feelings.” He stated that Hinchcliffe “understood the assignment.” Hart encouraged viewers to watch the full special without issuing a specific comment on the George Floyd line or offering an apology.
As of press time, Hinchcliffe had not issued a public statement or response addressing the criticism of the joke. A petition calling on Netflix to address the material appeared on social media. Netflix had not announced any edits to the special as of the latest available reports.
The contrast between Hart’s defense of the roast format and the Floyd family’s pain has become the central tension of the controversy. Hart attended Floyd’s memorial. He has built his career on uplifting Black joy. Yet he laughed at a joke that referenced one of the most traumatic deaths in recent American history.
Social Media Erupts as Debate Over Comedy Boundaries Intensifies
The clip spread rapidly across X, Instagram, and TikTok following the May 10 broadcast. Users were divided. Some argued that roasts have no boundaries and that Hinchcliffe was doing his job. Others called the joke indefensible regardless of context.
One user wrote: “Tony Hinchcliffe is a professional troll. He knew exactly what he was doing.” Another posted: “Kevin Hart laughed. The audience laughed. That’s the problem.” A third commented: “George Floyd’s daughter is 12 years old and has to hear this. Think about that before you defend it.”
Some comedians defended the roast format. “Nothing is off limits at a roast. That’s the whole point,” one user wrote. Others pushed back. “There’s a difference between roasting someone’s career and mocking a murdered man’s last words,” another replied. The debate showed no signs of cooling as of May 15.
What Comes Next: Apologies, Edits, or Silence?
The Floyd family has made their position clear. They want an apology from Hinchcliffe, a response from Hart, and accountability from Netflix. Whether they get any of those things remains uncertain.
Hinchcliffe has not spoken. Hart has defended the roast but not the joke. Netflix has not announced any edits to the special. A petition continues to circulate. The story is still developing.
For the Floyd family, the issue is not just about one joke. It is about a pattern of references to George Floyd’s death being used as punchline material. This was Hinchcliffe’s second Netflix roast with a Floyd joke. The family wants to know when it will stop.