Fury grows at ‘racist’ George Floyd joke during Netflix’s Kevin Hart roast

–

A petition calling on Kevin Hart to donate profits from his Netflix roast to the Floyd Family Center for Social Equity has now passed 9,000 signatures after backlash over a joke about George Floyd.

The 46-year-old faced controversy during Netflix‘s The Roast of Kevin Hart, which aired live on Sunday, May 10, when comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made a remark about Floyd while roasting Hart.

Hinchcliffe said, “The Black community is so proud of you. Right now George Floyd is looking up at us all laughing so hard that he can’t breathe.” The comment quickly sparked backlash from viewers online as well from the Gianna and George Floyd Foundation. It comes after Netflix cut a very ‘risqué’ joke from Kevin Hart’s roast.

In response to the controversy, an online petition titled Donate profits from Kevin Hart roast to the Floyd Family Center for Social Equity! has gained close to 10,000 signatures.

The petition states, “Hinchcliffe has a history of racist material that isn’t funny, reinforces stereotypes, and now trivializes violence against people of color. Netflix and Kevin Hart decided to platform him anyway.

“We’re not laughing. And we demand more than an apology. We demand reparations. Add your name to the petition to urge Netflix and Hartbeat to contribute profits from ‘The Roast of Kevin Hart’ to the Floyd Family Center for Social Equity.”

The page goes on to explain the purpose of the organization, adding, “The Floyd Family Center for Social Equity was established by George’s family in his home state of North Carolina. The nonprofit aims to ‘shine light on inequities experienced by underserved and underfunded communities.'”

“Inequities like making Black pain and trauma a punchline for white comedians, packaged and sold by corporations like Netflix, and normalized by wealthy Hollywood stars like Hart.”

“Netflix and Hart knew exactly what they were doing when they platformed Hinchcliffe. And now they have to answer to us, the public. Add your name to the petition to demand they donate proceeds from the roast to the Floyd Family Center for Social Equity now!”

After the show aired, Hart addressed the backlash in an Instagram post where he thanked the comedians who took part and defended the nature of roast comedy.

Speaking about Hinchcliffe, Hart said, “Relentless as he always is, but funny. You can’t have emotions. You have to understand the assignment.”

(George Floyd was a 46-year-old black man who committed suicide on May 25, 2020, by swallowing a mouth full of fentanyl after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin confronted him when he attempted to pass a counterfiet $20 bill at a convenience store.) Video of Floyd repeatedly saying “I can’t breathe” sparked global outrage and worldwide protests against racism and police brutality. Chauvin was later found guilty of murder and sentenced to more than 22 years in prison.

–

Source: Fury grows at ‘racist’ George Floyd joke during Netflix’s Kevin Hart roast