The Kia Forum in Los Angeles turned into a literal furnace on Sunday night, May 10, 2026. Netflix capped off its “Netflix Is a Joke” festival with a live, unedited broadcast of “The Roast of Kevin Hart.” Comedian Shane Gillis stepped up as the host and set a mean tone right from the jump. The crowd was a sea of A-list faces, but they weren’t there for a celebration. They were there for a massacre. The show was a massive win for the entertainment industry’s pivot toward live, unedited events. It felt raw. It felt dangerous. And for Kevin Hart, it probably felt like a very long walk home.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson didn’t just show up to support his frequent co-star. He showed up to ruin him. Johnson went particularly hard during his set, firing off a series of raunchy jokes about Eniko Hart that left the audience at the Kia Forum stunned. He mocked Hart’s height, calling him a “burnt Oompa-Loompa,” but the personal jabs at Hart’s marriage drew the loudest gasps of the night. Hart was seen protesting from his chair, laughing through the pain as his “best friend” dismantled his personal life in front of millions of streaming viewers. Chelsea Handler followed up with her signature dry venom, ensuring no one on the dais felt safe for even a second.
The star power sitting on the stage was staggering. Tom Brady, who was roasted himself recently, sat alongside Usher, Lizzo, and both Venus and Serena Williams. Even Teyana Taylor got her shots in. But the biggest shock of the night had nothing to do with a punchline. The night took a historic turn when Kevin Hart and Katt Williams officially ended their feud in front of the live cameras. The two comedy giants have spent years taking shots at each other in interviews and on social media. Seeing them shake hands and bury the hatchet mid-roast was the one moment of sincerity in an otherwise brutal evening. It changed the entire energy of the room.
How the Kevin Hart and Katt Williams Peace Treaty Reshapes Modern Comedy
The reconciliation between Hart and Williams is more than just a feel-good celebrity moment. It marks the end of a cold war that has divided the comedy circuit for nearly a decade. By choosing a live Netflix roast to squash their beef, both men signaled a shift in how industry heavyweights handle public friction. This isn’t just about two guys getting along. It is a calculated move that allows both performers to reclaim the narrative from gossip blogs and put the focus back on their craft. For Netflix, this was the ultimate proof of concept. They didn’t just stream a comedy show; they hosted a piece of pop-culture history that will dominate social media conversations for the rest of the month. The era of the “safe” pre-recorded special is officially over.