A press conference was held this week over Tony Hinchcliffe’s joke about George Floyd’s death at The Roast of Kevin Hart, with civil rights activists and Floyd’s own family demanding accountability. The nearly three-hour-long live TV special aired on Netflix last Sunday, May 10th, and saw a host of celebrities taking to the stage to put Hart and each other in the hot seat. While multiple insults were thrown and old controversies brought up, Hinchcliffe’s comment about Floyd has faced a significant backlash. “You’ve done good Kevin,” the comedian 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.” Tony Hinchcliffe made a WILD George Floyd joke while roasting Kevin Hart 💀 “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.” pic.twitter.com/33T2anzhja — Killa 🌺 (@KillaKreww) May 11, 2026 Floyd was a Black man who was murdered by a white former police officer, Derek Chauvin, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 2020. His dying words, “I can’t breathe,” later became a rallying cry during global protests against police brutality and racism. Hinchcliffe’s punchline directly referenced those final moments and alluded to the idea of Floyd being in hell, which is why many viewers felt the joke crossed a line. Get Out star Lil Rel Howery weighed in on the debate, calling it “disgusting… not funny, and not needed.” Travis Cains, a spokesman for The Gianna and George Floyd Foundation, also told TMZ that George’s friends and family condemned the joke and those involved. Now, Floyd’s family and activists have elaborated on the situation as part of a wider public response to the controversy. Footage of the press conference was uploaded by independent journalist Georgia Fort on May 14th, with a full report and statements published by Blck Press. During the event, Minneapolis civil rights and community leaders argued that Hinchcliffe’s comment trivialised Floyd’s murder and the wider movement against police brutality. Speakers called for apologies not only from Hinchcliffe, but also Netflix for platforming the joke and Kevin Hart for his involvement in the roast. Civil rights attorney and National Target Boycott co-founder Nekima Levy Armstrong described it as “unacceptable and unconscionable”, adding that watching the clip made her “sick to my stomach.” “George Floyd was a member of our community. He was a father. He was an uncle and he was a man who should still be alive,” she said. Meanwhile, Black Lives Matter Minnesota co-founder Trahern Crews argued the controversy was “bigger than one joke”, saying it reflected the continued “commodification of Black suffering.” Floyd’s aunt Angela Harrelson and cousin Paris Stevens also shared a statement saying that they understand roasts are meant to push boundaries, but that the comment about Floyd was “deeply disappointing” and “in very poor taste.” “When George Floyd said ‘I can’t breathe’ and cried out for his mother during the final moments of his murder, it was not a joke,” they said. Credit: Unsplash/Munshots However, the family added that they still believe “there is room for grace, growth, and redemption”, saying they would welcome an authentic apology and a real conversation with Hart and Hinchcliffe. Alongside this, Armstrong, Trahern, and co-founder of Black Lives Matter Minnesota, Monique Cullars-Doty, are demanding accountability through a series of actions. They include a direct public apology from Hinchcliffe to the family of George Floyd and the people of Minneapolis, a public statement and accountability measures from Netflix, a public response from Hart condemning the remarks, and the removal or editing of the segment. Film Shrine has contacted representatives for Tony Hinchcliffe, Kevin Hart, and Netflix for comment. Featured image credit: Netflix/Unsplash/Mercedes Mehling Post navigation Next story
