Michael Che Exposes Racial Controversy in Netflix’s “The Roast of Kevin Hart

Michael Che pulls out of The Roast of Kevin Hart, criticizes racial tone and all-white writing team

Saturday Night Live comedian Michael Che, who was originally set to perform at Netflix’s The Roast of Kevin Hart, withdrew from the event due to scheduling conflicts with SNL. In its wake, Che took to Instagram to publicly critique the roast’s racial humor and the lack of diversity among its writers, sparking a broader conversation about comedy, race and creative control in stand-up specials.

Che’s withdrawal came amid last-minute lineup changes for the May 12, 2026, special, which served as the closing event of Netflix’s Netflix Is a Joke Fest. According to Variety, multiple comedians had to pull out at the eleventh hour, including Che, though the exact reasons for their departures were not disclosed beyond scheduling conflicts.

In a series of Instagram posts, Che directly addressed the roast’s content and composition. His first post highlighted perceived differences in how Black and white comedians approach roasts:

*“White guys and Black people joke different. Black guy roast like, ‘look at this n—- shoes!’ White roasts are like, ‘Slavery, math, slain teens, sex crimes, slurs, family secrets.’ White guys don’t give a f** about their shoes.”

The comment appeared to reference controversial material delivered by roast host Shane Gillis and fellow comedian Tony Hinchcliffe. Gillis, in particular, faced backlash for a joke mocking Hart’s height by invoking slavery and lynching imagery—a reference he admitted required “three weeks of deliberation” to approve. Hinchcliffe also drew criticism for a routine about George Floyd that included dark humor about the late activist’s death, further fueling online outrage.

Che’s second post took direct aim at the writing team behind the special. He posted a photo of the five white writers credited for Gillis’ material—Nick Mullen, J.P. McDade, Mike Lawrence, Dan St. Germain, and Zac Amico—with the caption:

“Let’s do a roast celebrating the career of the most successful Black comic in the last 10 years. I love that! Who should we get to write it?”

His final slide read:

“C’monnnnnnnnn… that’s not funny?”

While the credits for the special listed 17 writers, including Black contributors like Chris Spencer, Che’s focus on the all-white team for Gillis’ segment underscored a broader critique of creative representation in comedy specials. Hinchcliffe and Chelsea Handler, who also performed, used their own writing teams, though details about their racial composition were not publicly disclosed.

The Roast of Kevin Hart aired live on Netflix, featuring a star-studded lineup that included Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Usher, Tom Brady, Katt Williams, Regina Hall, and Cheyl Underwood, among others. The three-hour event marked Netflix’s largest comedy special to date, but Che’s withdrawal and subsequent social media remarks have overshadowed its reception, turning the focus toward debates about racial dynamics in stand-up comedy.

Netflix has not issued a public statement addressing Che’s criticism or the special’s writing team composition. The company’s Netflix Is a Joke Fest concluded with the roast, though no further events are scheduled as part of the festival.

For Che, the incident reflects a long-standing tension in comedy about who gets to tell jokes—and who gets to write them. His posts have resonated widely, with many in the industry questioning whether roasts, as a format, can reconcile sharp humor with sensitivity, particularly when targeting Black comedians like Hart, who has been a vocal advocate for racial equity in entertainment.