Podcaster and comedian Joe Rogan has launched a blistering attack on fellow comedians who condemned the politically incorrect humor at the recent Kevin Hart roast, telling them to “f--- all the way off” and calling them traitors to the art of comedy. Rogan’s comments came during an episode of his podcast, where he discussed the backlash against the Netflix special with guest Harland Williams.
The roast of Kevin Hart, one of the biggest names in comedy, featured a lineup of comedians delivering no-holds-barred jokes that sparked outrage across the political spectrum. Tony Hinchcliffe particularly drew fire for a joke that appeared to imply George Floyd was watching the roast from hell, saying, “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.” Other jokes targeted Hart’s personal life, including his divorce and even his dead parents.
While the general public’s shock was understandable, Rogan argued that comedians who criticized the roast were being disingenuous. “If you're a person, and you're not accustomed to roasts, and you don't get why those jokes are so mean, I get it,” Rogan said. “But comedians — comedians that are getting upset about these roast jokes… F--- all the way off. Just f--- all the way off, you f---ing traitor. You know what this is. You know exactly what this is. You're a f---ing traitor. You're just using this moment to try to boost yourself up, to try to, like, knock down what's happening.”
Rogan’s defense of the roast highlights a long-standing tradition in comedy: roasts have always been brutally honest and offensive. From the Dean Martin roasts of the 1970s, where celebrities would trade insults about drinking, divorces, and personal scandals, to the Comedy Central roasts of the 2000s that took aim at everyone from Pamela Anderson to Donald Trump, the format is built on pushing boundaries. Netflix revived the tradition with a series of live roasts, including Tom Brady’s earlier this year, which also generated controversy for its crude jokes about the NFL star’s family and ex-wife.
Kevin Hart himself has been at the center of roast controversies before. In a recent interview with radio host Charlamagne tha God, Hart defended every comedian who performed, including those who made jokes about his dead parents and his height. Hart said he had a positive phone call with a critic offended by the George Floyd joke, but refused to apologize or take responsibility for others’ material. “I don't f---ing need to prove to people that I give a f---!” Hart exclaimed when Charlamagne suggested he should have led with that call to show he cares.
The roast also featured a joke by Pete Davidson that sparked backlash for an explicit remark about slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Davidson’s joke, which referenced Kirk’s death in an inappropriate manner, drew criticism from both left and right. Yet Rogan argued that such jokes are part and parcel of roast culture, where nothing is off-limits. “Roast jokes are f---ing mean. They've always been f---ing mean,” Rogan said, recalling how the late Patrice O’Neal could “eviscerate” an entire audience with his sharp humor.
The controversy has divided the comedy community. Some, like Chelsea Handler, publicly condemned the jokes, particularly Hinchcliffe’s George Floyd reference. Handler took to social media to express her disgust, calling the joke “gross” and “unacceptable.” In response, Shane Gillis, another comedian on the roast, shrugged off Handler’s outrage, mocking her for being offended. Rogan’s comments suggest he sees such condemnations as opportunistic: “You’re just using this moment to try to boost yourself up, to try to, like, knock down what's happening.”
The Netflix roast of Kevin Hart has become one of the most-watched specials in the platform’s history, according to Rogan, who noted that the controversy has only driven more viewership. This pattern is typical: the more people complain, the more people want to see what the fuss is about. Hart’s career, built on his relentless energy and willingness to be the butt of jokes, has weathered many such storms. From his early days as a stand-up in Philadelphia to global superstardom, he has always used his personal life as material, including his father’s drug addiction and his own infidelity.
Rogan’s position also touches on a broader debate about comedy and censorship. He argued that comedians who condemn roasts are betraying their craft, which relies on the freedom to say taboo things. “You could disagree with the content. You could say, ‘I think they went too far with this,’ But this f---ing pretending that these people are actual racists and Nazis just because they're telling these jokes that are in a roast? Like, f--- all the way off,” Rogan said.
The fireworks over the Hart roast come at a time when comedy is increasingly polarized. Some comics, like Dave Chappelle, have faced backlash for transgender jokes, while others, like Bill Burr, continue to push boundaries with impunity. Rogan’s own podcast has been criticized for spreading misinformation, yet he remains one of the most influential figures in media. His defense of the roast may embolden comedians to resist pressure to self-censor.
Harland Williams, who co-hosted the podcast episode, agreed with Rogan, using a hockey analogy: “Don't suit up, go out, and play hockey if you don't want to play hockey. Sit on the bench. And don't badmouth the people playing hockey.” Rogan added that even Kevin Hart, the target of the most brutal jokes, had no problem with the content. “Kevin f---ing Hart has defended every single person that said horrible s--- about him — about him being lynched from a bonsai tree and all the craziest s--- that they said,” Rogan said.
The roasts on Netflix have become a cultural phenomenon, but they also raise questions about where the line should be drawn. For Rogan, the line is simple: roasts are not the same as everyday speech. They are a performance art where the audience expects offense. To criticize a roast for being offensive is to miss the point. As Rogan put it, comedians who complain are “f---ing traitors” who are disrespecting the very profession they claim to represent.
Meanwhile, Kevin Hart has moved on, promoting his next projects and shrugging off the controversy. In his interview with Charlamagne, Hart emphasized that he does not owe anyone an explanation for hosting a roast with edgy humor. “I don't f---ing need to prove to people that I give a f---!” he insisted. For Hart, the roast was a success, and the comedians who participated did their job. Now, the debate continues among fans and pundits, with Rogan’s blistering tirade adding another layer to the discourse.
The history of comedy roasts is rich with moments that seemed outrageous at the time but later became accepted. In the 1980s, the New York Friars Club roasts were infamous for their blue humor, targeting everyone from Lucille Ball to Liza Minnelli. When the Comedy Central roasts began in the early 2000s, they pushed boundaries with jokes about 9/11, race, and religion. The Bob Saget roast, for example, included jokes about his deceased sister that would be considered taboo today, yet it was celebrated as one of the best.
Rogan’s comments come from a perspective of defending the craft against what he sees as a moral panic. He noted that the corporations behind Netflix and other platforms are happy to air the roasts because they generate enormous profits. “Well, you know, who else didn't have a problem with it is the people, the corporations that put it on corporate television, on corporate airwaves,” Harland Williams added.
Ultimately, the Kevin Hart roast controversy highlights the tension between comedy’s tradition of pushing boundaries and modern sensibilities about sensitivity and respect. Rogan’s call-out of “traitor” comedians may resonate with those who feel that comedy is being sanitized by outrage culture. Others may see the roast’s jokes as crossing a line into genuine harm. As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the roast of Kevin Hart will be remembered not just for its laughs, but for the heated arguments it ignited about the role of comedy in society.
Source: Fox News News