Chelsea Handler has launched a blistering attack on comedians Shane Gillis and Tony Hinchcliffe following their controversial performances at Netflix's The Roast of Kevin Hart. Speaking on Deon Cole's Funny Knowing You podcast, Handler accused both comics of crossing the line with racist and sexist material.
Handler's Accusations
'I knew enough about Tony and Shane - they're racists, they're bigots, they're sexist,' Handler said. 'I don't find those jokes funny. Lynching Black people is not a joke. It's worse than rape.' She also called out jokes targeting Sherryl Underwood's late husband, adding, 'There was so much disgustingness, I knew it was gonna be a gross vibe.'
Gillis' Epstein Jab
During the roast, host Shane Gillis introduced Handler with a joke about her attending a 2010 dinner party hosted by financier Jeffrey Epstein, who had served time for procuring a minor. Gillis quipped, 'Chelsea is a Zionist. Speaking of dead kids, she's a big fan of abortions. Chelsea's been scraped more times than the grill at Benihana.' He later added, 'Speaking of tossing tiny shrimp into a child's mouth, Chelsea Handler went to dinner at Jeffrey Epstein's house in 2010.' Gillis defended the bit as 'a fun joke,' noting the dinner included Prince Andrew and Woody Allen. Handler has previously said she 'didn't know who Jeffrey Epstein was' at the time and described the evening as 'so awkward and so weird.'
Hinchcliffe's George Floyd Joke
The most controversial moment came from Tony Hinchcliffe, who said, '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.' The remark sparked immediate online outrage.
Handler's Response on Stage
Handler did not stay silent during her own set, firing back at both comics. She said to Hinchcliffe, who had called her a 'cold frigid bitch,' 'Tony and Shane, this must be so exciting for you guys. Usually on Sunday nights, you just burn a cross on someone's lawn, and tonight you get to roast a whole Black guy... If you're here tonight, who's keeping Joe Rogan's balls warm in their mouth?' She continued, 'Tony is what happens when women don't have safe access to abortion care... I didn't know veneers came in deli mustard yellow. You must be using Crest White Supremacist Strips.' She added, 'Tony, you have the face of a school shooter and the personality of someone who gets shot first.'
Gillis' Past Controversy
Handler also referenced Gillis' firing from Saturday Night Live over anti-Asian slurs, saying, 'Shane, just so you know Judaism and Zionism are two different things. Kind of like how Chinatown and Koreatown are two different things, but your favorite slur works in both places.' She added, 'Shane has been accused of being anti-Asian which is ironic, considering he has the complexion and physique of a steamed dumpling.' Gillis was seen laughing at the remark.
Kevin Hart's Defense
Kevin Hart defended Hinchcliffe, praising his roast performance and saying he 'understood the assignment.' Hart stated, 'He was relentless as he always is, but funny.'
