Kevin Hart has opened up about his experience hosting The Roast of Tom Brady, which streamed live on Netflix back in May, particularly after Tom Brady himself came forward with regrets about his participating in the comedy special.
The 46-year-old former star quarterback later aired his grievances about the special, which ended up drawing in over 13 million viewers in its first week alone, but particularly how it affected his kids.
"I liked when the jokes were about me. I thought they were so fun," Brady said in a May 13 episode of The Pivot Podcast. "I didn’t like the way they affected my kids... [It's] the bittersweet aspect of when you do something that you think is one way and then all of a sudden you realize I wouldn’t do that again because of the way that it affected actually the people that I care about the most in the world."
While recently speaking with the Bleacher Report, Hart was asked what he thought about Brady's comments. And though he understands why Brady was upset, the comedian also thinks he could have set better parameters heading into it.
"When he says he regretted doing it... I think what he’s referring to is saying, 'I could have tapered it a little differently, saying or having a conversation [before] of like, 'Guys, let’s go and do this, but let’s not touch this, or this,'" Hart reasoned.
"And I think the idea of going all in and just saying, 'I don’t care, because I know the world would love to see me being on the receiving end of s--t, because I'm Tom Brady and I've been at the highest stage of my life,' I think it was that," he continued. "But also, what it did for comedy and like, our climate of sensitivity, I think was necessary and valuable."
"Although, I can side with Tom and see where he's coming from, and just wanting to protect the idea of family and the conversation attached to that," Hart explained. "And I'm not privy to everything he dealt with after, so I know his response and saying something about it was a result of possibly that."
Hart continued, noting that everyone who went up on stage "got hit," but that every comic who participated got a chance to show off their sharp-witted talents and what makes them special. He also pointed out that it was his job as roast master to get everyone comfortable with what would be some envelope-pushing jokes.
"I love the moment, I love Tom, I understand why Tom came back and said what he said," Hart said. "But... I think when he says that, he just knows that he could have policed it a little better."
"Also, not being aware of where people were going to go and how they were going to come in... it's a learning lesson," he added. "So moving forward, if we're roasting someone and there's something crazy that they don't want, then it's just a conversation beforehand and people go around it."
Be that as it may, apparently Brady did set some ground rules when it came to off-limits jokes about New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, which comedian Jeff Ross allegedly ignored, leading to an awkward, onstage exchange. In either case, one would have to imagine Brady's roast days are decidedly behind him, particularly as he looks ahead to his new gig with Fox Sports.
