Story perspectives

Michael Che Labels Kevin Hart Roast Predominantly White

5/14/2026

Summary

Michael Che Exposes

Comedian Michael Che posted on Instagram that most of 17 writers for Netflix’s ‘The Roast of Kevin Hart’ were white.
He identified five white writers—Nick Mullen, J.P. McDade, Mike Lawrence, Dan St. Germain, Zac Amico—and three Black writers—Chris Spencer, Harry Ratchford, Joey Wells.
He withdrew from the roast because of a scheduling conflict with Saturday Night Live.
Jokes about slavery and George Floyd prompted Tamika Mallory’s backlash while Netflix declined comment.

Summary

Shane Gillis Deliberates

The roast production experienced several last-minute additions and dropouts among comedians.
Shane Gillis and Chelsea Handler each assembled their own writing teams for the show.
Writer Madison Sinclair provided Variety with a cache of unused roast jokes that never aired.
Gillis’s slavery-related punchline required three weeks of deliberation before it was approved for broadcast.

History

Historical Context

The 1992 Los Angeles riots, sparked by the Rodney King verdict, left 63 dead and revealed stark racial and economic divides. Those tensions later fueled scrutiny of media representation, leading to criticism of Netflix’s ‘The Roast of Kevin Hart’ for a largely non-Black writing crew. The episode highlights ongoing demands for equitable inclusion.

1 of 3

Michael Che Exposes

Comedian Michael Che posted on Instagram that most of 17 writers for Netflix’s ‘The Roast of Kevin Hart’ were white.
He identified five white writers—Nick Mullen, J.P. McDade, Mike Lawrence, Dan St. Germain, Zac Amico—and three Black writers—Chris Spencer, Harry Ratchford, Joey Wells.
He withdrew from the roast because of a scheduling conflict with Saturday Night Live.
Jokes about slavery and George Floyd prompted Tamika Mallory’s backlash while Netflix declined comment.

1 / 3