Chelsea Handler slams Kevin Hart Roast ‘bigots’ for ‘racist’ remarks: ‘Lynching is not a joke’

Chelsea Handler is speaking out, and she is not pulling any punches. In a recent appearance on Deon Cole’s podcast "Funny Knowing You," Handler slammed comedians Shane Gillis and Tony Hinchcliffe for their controversial routines during Netflix’s "The Roast of Kevin Hart." As reported by Variety, Handler labeled the pair as "bigots" and explicitly condemned their work as racist and sexist.

The Roast Controversy

Handler did not mince words regarding the reputations of the two comics. "I knew about Tony Hinchcliffe and Shane (Gillis) and their backgrounds," she said. "It’s just everything we know: that they’re racist, that they’re bigots, that they’re sexist. That they think they’re invincible."

The comedian specifically took issue with a line from Gillis about Kevin Hart’s height, in which Gillis suggested Hart is "so short, you’d have to lynch him from a bonsai tree." Handler found the sentiment abhorrent, telling listeners, "It was gross. I don’t find those jokes to be funny—jokes about lynching Black people."

She further emphasized the gravity of the rhetoric, stating, "Lynching is not a joke. That’s worse than rape. You’re not joking about rape, are you? … You know you can’t do that, but you can say ‘lynching’?"

Beyond the Roast

The criticism didn't stop there. Handler also blasted the pair for their remarks regarding Sheryl Underwood’s late husband, who died by suicide in 1990, calling the bit "disgusting."

In response to the backlash, Gillis offered a statement via Variety, stating, "This is a big moment for Chelsea. I am glad she’s capitalizing. Good for her. We’re all rooting for her. Anyway, come see me July 17th at the football stadium in Philly."