Stephen A. Smith did not mind being roasted, but one Kevin Hart joke clearly hit differently. The ESPN star said a comment about him “hating Black people” genuinely bothered him. The moment came during Netflix’s recent roast event for Hart, where the comedian joked that Smith belonged on his “Mount Rushmore of racism.” Smith later addressed the remark on his SiriusXM show and admitted the line stayed with him because it came from someone he respected.
Stephen A. Smith shares his thoughts on Kevin Hart’s joke about him
Instead of attacking the joke itself, Smith focused on who delivered it. Speaking on Straight Shooter with Stephen A., he explained that he thought he and Hart had a strong relationship. That is why the comment landed harder than people may have expected. Smith said he has spent years defending and speaking up for the Black community, so hearing that kind of accusation from Hart felt personal.
Hart made the joke while roasting host Shane Gillis during the Netflix special. “My Mount Rushmore of racism when it comes to hating Black people [is] Shane Gillis, Kid Rock, Hulk Hogan, Stephen A. Smith,” Hart said during the event. Smith was not present at the roast, but clips quickly spread online afterward. The sports personality later said, “I have no issue with the joke. I have an issue with the fact that it came from him.”
The controversy around the roast did not stop there. Comedian Chelsea Handler criticized Shane Gillis and Tony Hinchcliffe over race-related material from the event. Hart later defended both himself and Hinchcliffe after backlash surrounding a George Floyd reference made during the show
Smith also tied the criticism he receives to his growing political commentary. Over the last few years, the longtime ESPN figure has expanded beyond sports and regularly discusses national politics and social issues. He even referenced talk about a possible presidential run while responding to the Hart controversy. Still, despite clearly being upset, Smith shut down the idea of starting a feud with the comedian.
Originally reported by Rishabh Shandilya on Mandatory.
