Handler Calls Roast Comics Racist, Sexist
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- Chelsea Handler said on Deon Cole's podcast that the jokes by Shane Gillis and Tony Hinchcliffe were "racist" and "sexist," calling them bigots.
- Shane Gillis made a joke about Kevin Hart being "so short, you'd have to lynch him from a bonsai tree," which Handler described as "gross" and "worse than rape."
- Tony Hinchcliffe participated in jokes about Sheryl Underwood's late husband, who died by suicide, which Handler called "gross" and "disgusting."
- Shane Gillis issued a statement to Variety responding to Handler's criticism, saying "This is a big moment for Chelsea. I am glad she’s capitalizing. Good for her. We’re all rooting for her."
- Sheryl Underwood later appeared on Gillis's podcast, saying she took no offense to the jokes about her late husband and that "uncomfortable humor" can lessen tension.
- Chelsea Handler noted that ex‑girlfriends of Gillis reached out to her before the roast with background information, shaping her perspective.
Why it matters: Handler’s condemnation brings the debate over the limits of comedy into the public eye, framing the Netflix roast as a venue for bigoted humor while highlighting that participants like Sheryl Underwood say they were not offended, underscoring a split in how such jokes are perceived.
