Kevin Hart is facing major backlash after doubling down on the controversial George Floyd joke made during his Netflix roast — and now the internet is completely divided over whether he handled the situation the right way.

During his interview on The Breakfast Club, Kevin made it clear that he believes a roast is supposed to push boundaries, shock audiences, and make people uncomfortable. He repeatedly defended comedian Tony Hinchcliffe by saying “that’s what he does” and argued that people understood the assignment going into the event.

But critics weren’t buying it.

Many fans felt Kevin missed an opportunity to simply acknowledge why the joke about George Floyd hurt so many people, especially within the Black community. Instead of apologizing, Kevin focused on separating himself from the joke entirely, insisting he didn’t say it and shouldn’t be expected to stop a live production in the middle of the show.

What really fueled the controversy was when Kevin admitted he had no interest in even watching an interview with George Floyd’s brother, despite previously supporting the family publicly after Floyd’s death. That moment immediately sparked outrage online, with some accusing him of becoming too disconnected from the audience that helped build his career.

At the same time, others defended Kevin and argued people are misunderstanding what roast comedy is supposed to be. Supporters say roasts have always included offensive, brutal, and controversial jokes, and censoring comedians defeats the entire purpose of the format.

Meanwhile, former NBA player Stephen Jackson appeared to take a much more emotional stance, reminding viewers how deeply personal George Floyd’s death still is for many people. His response added another layer to the conversation, especially after Kevin revealed the two privately spoke following the backlash.

Now social media is split right down the middle.

Some people believe Kevin Hart protected business relationships and Netflix over his community.
Others believe comedians shouldn’t be forced to apologize for jokes made during a roast.

And honestly, this may have become one of the biggest public controversies of Kevin Hart’s career in years.

So now the internet is asking:

Did Kevin Hart handle this situation correctly by defending the roast format and standing by free comedy?

Or did he cross a line by refusing to show more empathy toward George Floyd’s family and the people offended by the joke?