Sheryl Underwood is letting the world know that when it comes to comedy, her skin is as thick as it gets.
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During a recent appearance on the “Ricky Smiley Morning Show,” she opened up about her experience at the high-profile Kevin Hart roast on Netflix, and she didn’t hold back on how she felt about the jokes that some fans thought went way too far.
The conversation got heavy when the topic turned to the “below the belt” shots taken at her deceased husband and even the inclusion of George Floyd jokes. While social media was ready to crash out on her behalf, Sheryl revealed that the comedians actually came to her with respect before the cameras started rolling. Tony Hinchcliffe and Shane Gillis both approached her to give her a heads up on the topics they were diving into.
“I said they better be funny because I’m from the old school…Playing the dozens with y’all,” Sheryl shared.
When asked if the jokes about her late husband made her feel some type of way, Sheryl kept it real. She looked at the moment as a way to open up the floor for bigger conversations, specifically regarding Black men and mental illness. To Sheryl, the roast wasn’t just about the insults; it was about the survival of raw comedy.
“That’s why I said thank you for bringing back words we been using but we got canceled for using. Y’all getting paid for using. That’s why it’s freedom of speech for everybody,” the TV host explained.
Even when the room got uncomfortable with George Floyd jokes, Sheryl stood her ground on the purpose of the art form. She argued that the goal of that kind of comedy is to provoke a reaction.
“You should be mad. That’s the reaction we want,” she said, before pivotting to the need for comedy to educate people on things like gerrymandering and political power shifts.
For Sheryl, the roast wasn’t a sign of disrespect, it was a sign that comedy is finally “alive and well” again. While it was “a little rough” to hear certain things, she walked away with her head high, a pen in her hand and a reminder that healing often starts with a laugh, even when it stings.
