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\n\tWanda Sykes<\/a> abstained from Netflix\u2019s high-profile Kevin Hart roast in May, and the comedian is quite pleased with her decision.<\/p>\n \n\tAsked by Vulture if she was asked to participate in the live telecast, Sykes said, \u201cI was. Kevin called me before it was announced, and I said, \u2018No.\u2019 And he said, \u2018Come on, Wanda. Come on. It\u2019ll be good for your special.’\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tSykes said \u201cthank God\u201d she chose to attend a Los Angeles Sparks WNBA game instead.<\/p>\n \n\tAsked by Jesse David Fox on the \u201cGood One\u201d podcast<\/a> why the roast went \u201cso wrong,\u201d Sykes said, \u201cJust lazy, lazy writing. But I thought the same thing with the [2024 Tom] Brady roast too. It seems like the roasts are just recycled sexist, racist, gay jokes. Like, come on.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tSykes is not the only comic who has criticized \u201cThe Roast of Kevin Hart.\u201d Variety<\/em> exclusively reported that Michael Che was initially on board to perform at the event before pulling out due to scheduling. The \u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d star then took to social media to shade the white writers<\/a> of the roast for jokes about slavery and sex crimes. Even Chelsea Handler, who did participate in the roast, later slammed<\/a> the host Shane Gillis and Tony Hinchcliffe for \u201cgross\u201d material, even going as far as to call the comics \u201cracist\u201d and \u201csexist.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tRegardless of the backlash, the roast was a ratings hit for Netflix, scoring 13.5 million viewers in one week (that\u2019s down only 2% from the previous Brady roast). The event took place on the final night of the Netflix Is a Joke festival and also featured comics including Sheryl Underwood and Katt Williams and Hollywood stars like Regina Hall and Dwayne Johnson.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n