Tony Hinchcliffe’s Jokes Spark Outrage from Family and Celebs

Four days have passed since Netflix premiered ‘The Roast of Kevin Hart‘, and discussions online show no signs of slowing down! Tony Hinchcliffe is at the center of controversy due to a joke perceived as tasteless, referencing the tragic death of George Floyd. The backlash is widespread, drawing criticism not only from fans but also from notable figures such as Tamika D. Mallory and Sukihana. Floyd’s family members, including his brother Terrence Floyd and close friend Stephen Jackson, have also expressed their disapproval.

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What Did Tony Hinchcliffe Say About George Floyd That Sparked Outrage?

During his performance, Hinchcliffe reportedly made a reference to the horrific circumstances of George Floyd’s death that occurred on May 25, 2020. On that fateful day, former police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes during an arrest in Minnesota, despite Floyd’s repeated pleas that he could not breathe. In 2021, Chauvin was convicted of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter, receiving a sentence of 22.5 years in prison. This conviction coincided with an additional 21-year sentence for pleading guilty to violating Floyd’s constitutional rights. Floyd’s death ignited a significant movement against police brutality under the banner of ‘Black Lives Matter.’

Despite this grave context, Tony Hinchcliffe chose to use Floyd’s tragic passing as the punchline during a live Netflix special, with Kevin Hart laughing in response.

“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,” Tony Hinchcliffe remarked.

Tony Hinchcliffe made a WILD George Floyd joke while roasting Kevin Hart 💀

“The Black community is so proud of you… right now George Floyd is looking up at us all laughing so hard he can’t breathe.” pic.twitter.com/33T2anzhja

— Killa 🌺 (@KillaKreww) May 11, 2026

The backlash against Tony Hinchcliffe extends beyond the George Floyd joke. Both he and Shane Gillis made jokes about Sheryl Underwood’s husband, who tragically died by suicide in 1990. ‘The Kevin Hart Roast’ marks the second occasion where Hinchcliffe has made a joke about George Floyd. He previously did so during Tom Brady’s roast in 2024, suggesting that Rob Gronkowski resembles “the final boss in George Floyd: The Video Game,” according to the Star Tribune. Up to this point, Hinchcliffe has not publicly addressed the backlash surrounding his recent or past controversial remarks, prompting critics to question whether there is a recurring pattern.

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Summary of Family, Friend, and Celebrity Reactions to the Joke

In an interview with ‘The Breakfast Club’s Loren Lorosa, Terrence Floyd condemned Tony Hinchcliffe for trivializing his brother’s death in the name of comedy. He expressed that Kevin Hart should have intervened during the joke, especially since he attended George Floyd’s funeral in Minnesota. “A lot of it just felt argh…it wasn’t tasteful,” Terrence stated. He also mentioned that George Floyd’s daughter often faces negative attention from controversies surrounding her father’s name, particularly around the anniversary of his death.

“This is crazy. We’re upset but I’m focusing more on the well-being of my niece,” Terrence added.

George Floyd’s close friend, Stephen Jackson, also spoke out regarding the joke on social media. He emphasized that people cannot dictate others’ feelings about what offends them. “Everybody laughing…until it’s their family member that gets murdered, then it ain’t funny,” he remarked in a video. He denounced the behavior as “clown sh*t,” stating that he has actively marched in honor of his brother across 29 states and will not be told how to react. His caption included:

“Forever gone ride for my brother. If you don’t like me or respect my brother, unfollow is all you gotta do. I don’t give a f*ck. Respect it or check it, and nobody ain’t checking sh*t here. Wallahi. Your opinion don’t matter to me. Keep it. Ciabatta still come 1st on the month regardless 😂.”

Sukihana expressed her shock through a video on social media, criticizing “a group of white colonizers” for disrespecting George Floyd and making light of his death. “I’m more appalled at the Black people that sat there and watched it and laughed. Nobody got up? Nobody said…this is my cue, I’m leaving?” she questioned.

As previously mentioned, Tamika D. Mallory also issued a statement condemning Tony Hinchcliffe’s jokes, arguing there was “nothing funny” about George Floyd’s murder.

“Allowing that white man or any other man to stand up there and disrespect US while laughing is disgusting. Part of the reason Black folks continue to face SEVERE attacks against our rights is that some of us think everything is sh*ts and giggles. It wasn’t funny AT ALL.”

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Has Kevin Hart Responded to the Controversial Joke About George Floyd?

As previously noted, Kevin Hart was one of many who laughed during the roast when Tony Hinchcliffe made jokes involving George Floyd and his death. Following the event, Hart took to Instagram to commend all the comedians who participated, asserting that the roast proceeded exactly as intended. According to Kevin, roasts should feature “hard-hitting, relentless jokes with no consequence. That’s the concept of a roast; you go hard or you go home.” Regarding Tony Hinchcliffe specifically, Hart remarked:

“Tony Hinchcliffe f*cking understood the assignment. Relentless as he always is, but funny. You can’t have emotions. You gotta understand what the fking assignment is. Everybody came out there and did their fking thing.”

Since his video on May 11, Kevin Hart has made seven more posts on Instagram promoting the roast. He has not directly confronted the backlash regarding the George Floyd jokes. Nonetheless, his comment sections are inundated with mentions of the controversy.

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