Wanda Sykes Says She’s Glad She Skipped Kevin Hart’s Roast

Wanda Sykes, Kevin Hart

Wanda Sykes Says She’s Glad She Skipped Kevin Hart’s Roast

Wanda Sykes says she has no regrets about passing on Netflix’s The Roast of Kevin Hart.

During a recent appearance on Vulture’s Good One podcast, the comedian revealed that Kevin Hart personally invited her to participate in the roast before it was announced. However, Sykes said she immediately declined the offer. “Kevin called me before it was announced, and I said, ‘No!’” Sykes recalled. She added that Hart tried to convince her, telling her, “Come on, Wanda. Come on, it’ll be good. It’ll be good for your special. You’ve got a special coming out.”

Sykes went on to explain that her decision stemmed from her growing frustration with the direction of modern celebrity roasts. “Just lazy, lazy writing,” she said when asked what she felt went wrong with the event. “Seems like the roasts, they’re just recycled, you know, sexist, racist, gay jokes. Like, come on.”

After watching portions of the special, Sykes said she felt validated in her choice to stay away. “I consumed enough to go, ‘Thank god,’” she said, noting that she opted to attend a Los Angeles Sparks game instead.

Sykes isn’t the only comedian to criticize the roast. Chelsea Handler previously described some of the material as “ick” and “gross,” while several jokes delivered during the event sparked backlash online. Hart later acknowledged that at least one controversial joke made during the roast “wasn’t tasteful” to Black audiences, though he defended the overall nature of roast comedy.

Despite the criticism, The Roast of Kevin Hart drew millions of viewers for Netflix and generated widespread conversation across social media, proving that even the most controversial jokes can keep audiences talking long after the show ends.