Nikki Glaser relieved to skip Kevin Hart roast after hearing jokes: 'It's nerve-wracking'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Comedian and actress Nikki Glaser spoke about her reaction to Netflix’s 'The Roast of Kevin Hart' while appearing on the American Music Awards red carpet at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Tuesday, May 26. She reflected on the live comedy special and the mixed reactions it continues to generate.

Glaser said she was relieved to have watched the roast as a viewer rather than taking part in it, pointing to the pressure that comes with performing in that format.

Nikki Glaser reflects on Kevin Hart roast controversy

“What did you think of the Kevin Hart roast? You were missed,” the host asked Glaser during the interview. “I mean, I loved watching it. I love anything that's like, watching a live comedy event, it's so, the stakes are so high,” she said.

Glaser added that stepping away from the stage felt like a relief. “I was glad to be watching it and not doing it. It's nerve-wracking, and it really sends your nervous system through a lot of trauma to do one of those,” she said.

She further noted that her reaction to the material was mixed but avoided directly criticizing fellow comedians involved. “There was some stuff that I didn't love, and there was other stuff that I thought was great. They went there,” she said, adding that she would rather share her opinions privately in group chats with fellow comedians.

Glaser also addressed controversial humor and the boundaries of edgy comedy, saying she believes such jokes can work when properly structured within the joke itself.

“The problem is not that it's racist, it's that sometimes you've got to find a way, if you really want to do a joke, you've got to find a way to make it make sense,” she explained. According to Glaser, audiences often react more to execution than subject matter.

“I do love roasts for how anything can be said, and all bets are off, but that's not so easy. You have to make it palatable,” she added.

Kevin Hart, Tony Hinchcliffe and Chelsea Handler exchange reactions

The backlash surrounding the roast intensified after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made a joke referencing George Floyd during the Netflix special. Addressing actor Kevin Hart, he said, “George Floyd is looking up at us all, laughing so hard that he can’t breathe.”

Floyd’s death in 2020, after former police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes, sparked worldwide protests and civil rights demonstrations. Hart had attended Floyd’s memorial and private service in Minneapolis.

During an appearance on ‘The Breakfast Club,’ Hart addressed the criticism surrounding the roast and acknowledged that the Floyd joke “wasn’t a tasteful joke to our culture.” However, he defended the overall nature of roast comedy, saying audiences understood why such humor appears in the format. He also praised Hinchcliffe’s performance, calling it one of the strongest sets of the night. 

The controversy later expanded into public exchanges among comedians involved in the special. Chelsea Handler criticized Hinchcliffe and Shane Gillis during an appearance on Deon Cole’s ‘Funny Knowing You’ podcast. She claimed former girlfriends of the comedians had messaged her privately describing them in negative terms.