Michael Che Dropped Out of Kevin Hart Roast, Now Shades White Writers

Key Points:

• Michael Che, initially set to perform at Netflix's "Roast of Kevin Hart," withdrew due to scheduling conflicts with "Saturday Night Live" and subsequently criticized the roast on social media for its racial humor dynamics.
• Che highlighted the difference between how white and Black comedians joke during roasts, pointing out that white roasts often include edgier topics like slavery and family secrets, referencing controversial jokes made by roast participants Shane Gillis and Tony Hinchcliffe.
• The roast featured provocative jokes targeting Kevin Hart’s personal life and family, with comedians like Shane Gillis and Jeff Ross making remarks about Hart’s height, his late father’s addiction, and other sensitive subjects, with "nothing off limits," according to Ross.
• Che also criticized the lack of Black writers for the roast, noting that the main joke-writing team hired by Gillis was predominantly white, despite the event celebrating a successful Black comedian; however, the overall writing team included 17 credited writers, several of whom are Black.
• Some writers, including J.P. McDade, responded to Che’s critique with humor, while Netflix and Che’s representatives have not commented on the controversy.