Community Leaders Demand Netflix Accountability After Comedian Jokes About George Floyd's Final Moments
MSR editor Jasmine McBride reports on a May 13 press conference at the Hennepin County Government Center where Minneapolis community leaders, civil rights advocates and Floyd's nephew condemned a joke about George Floyd's final moments made during Netflix's Roast of Kevin Hart and demanded a public apology and removal of the segment.
Nearly six years after George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer, a Netflix comedy special reopened wounds that community members say have never fully healed.
During “The Roast of Kevin Hart,” comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made a joke referencing Floyd’s final moments, saying Floyd was “looking up” at the audience and “can’t breathe,” a reference to Floyd’s last words as officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds on May 25, 2020.
On May 13, Minneapolis community leaders, civil rights advocates and residents gathered at the Hennepin County Government Center to condemn the remarks and demand accountability from Hinchcliffe, Hart and Netflix.
“When I saw the clip online, it made me sick to my stomach,” said Nekima Levy Armstrong, civil rights attorney and founder of the Racial Justice Network, who opened the press conference. “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. Here we are about to memorialize George Floyd for year six, and instead of allowing our community to grieve in peace, we have Netflix comedians making light of his killing. It is unacceptable and it is unconscionable.”
Brandon Williams, Floyd’s nephew, spoke to the Spokesman-Recorder by phone from Texas. He said he did not watch the special but learned about the joke through calls and texts.
“Kevin Hart was at the service after George was killed. He spoke to us privately, saw the pain that we went through,” Williams said. “It was shocking for him not to at least say something.”
Williams said the family is on a healing journey. “We try not to open up old wounds for our own mental health,” he said. “We see the bigger picture… what can we do to create meaningful change that will prevent another George Floyd.”
Speakers pointed to what they called a clear double standard. Jokes about Melania Trump were reportedly pulled from the special before broadcast, while remarks targeting Black women, including Cheryl Underwood and Lizzo, were allowed to air.
“You can’t disrespect white women, but you can disrespect Black women,” said Trahern Crews, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Minnesota. “Kevin Hart was the producer of the show. This is about Black entertainers bending and bowing to white supremacy for better business.”
Toussaint Morrison, an activist and independent journalist, noted that Netflix had previously edited out jokes about the late Paul Walker out of respect for his family. “They edited those out, but they let these in about George Floyd,” Morrison said. “Why is it okay to joke about dead Black people and expect everybody to laugh?”
John Thompson, a friend of Philando Castile and former state legislator, said Floyd’s final moments should never have become entertainment. “It wasn’t a joke. It wasn’t a punchline. It was a human being on the ground, crying for his mama, in front of the entire world,” Thompson said. “When human suffering becomes content for ratings and profits, we have a moral problem in this country.”
Leslie E. Redmond, executive director of Wind Back, said the joke felt intentional. “When this man says ‘George Floyd is looking up at you…’ when you say somebody is looking up, are you insinuating he is in hell?” Redmond said. “We have to be very intentional and listen to the words these people are saying as they try to rewrite history.”
Suleiman Adan, deputy executive director of CAIR-MN, said the community should not have to defend Floyd’s humanity. “You shouldn’t have to stand here and say that he was a human being,” Adan said. “Why do we have to add ornaments to Black men’s lives to make them more human?”
Michelle Gross, president of Communities United Against Police Brutality, directed part of her remarks at white community members. “It should not be on people of color to check white folks,” Gross said. “It should be white folks checking white folks. These things start as a joke, then jokes become statements, and statements become dangerous actions.”
Monique Cullars-Doty, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Minnesota, connected the incident to a broader pattern. “This is what happens because America has continued to coddle white supremacy,” she said. “It’s all connected, and it all goes back to a history where America has never held white supremacy accountable.”
Community leaders are demanding a direct public apology from Hinchcliffe to Floyd’s family and the people of Minneapolis, a public statement and accountability measures from Netflix, a public response from Hart condemning the remarks, and removal or editing of the segment from future broadcasts.
Levy Armstrong closed with a call to action. “Netflix is not the ambassador for free speech, they are focused on profits over people,” she said. “At a minimum, do not stream this particular comedy special until this joke is removed.”
The press conference was co-hosted by Black Lives Matter Minnesota and the Racial Justice Network. The sixth anniversary of Floyd’s death is May 25.
Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@spokesman-recorder.com.