The Netflix special The Roast of Kevin Hart was designed to celebrate the comedian, but it quickly turned chaotic when host Shane Gillis targeted Chelsea Handler with a shocking claim, as reported by Decider.
As Handler took the stage, Gillis told the audience she once dined with Jeffrey Epstein. He said the dinner happened in 2010, two years after Epstein’s conviction for procuring a minor for prostitution.
Gillis didn’t hold back in his introduction. “Chelsea is a Zionist. I’m not saying that’s good or bad. Speaking of dead kids, she’s a big fan of abortions. Chelsea’s been scraped more times than the grill at Benihana,” he joked.
He then linked that reference to Epstein, saying, “Speaking of tossing tiny shrimp into a child’s mouth, Chelsea Handler went to dinner at Jeffrey Epstein’s house in 2010.”
Gillis told the crowd it was “a fun” joke but insisted the story was true. “You can look it up, there’s articles. It wasn’t like a big party; it was like seven people there. Prince Andrew and Woody Allen were there,” he said.
According to the BBC, Handler did attend a small dinner at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse. Prince Andrew later described the event as “a small dinner party.”
Emails cited by the outlet listed attendees including Handler, Woody Allen, Soon-Yi Previn, Katie Couric, George Stephanopoulos, and Charlie Rose.
FREE Gun Law Map: Laws Don't Pause During Social Unrest
Handler previously discussed the dinner in 2021 on Rob Lowe’s podcast Literally! With Rob Lowe, explaining she “didn’t know who Jeffrey Epstein was” at the time and calling the night “so awkward and so weird.”
During the roast, Handler ignored Gillis’ Epsteins' remarks but quickly fired back at him for his past controversies. She referenced his 2019 firing from Saturday Night Live for using anti-Asian slurs.
“Shane, just so you know, Judaism and Zionism are two different things,” Handler said from the stage. “Kind of like how Chinatown and Koreatown are two different things, but your favorite slur works in both places.”
Handler continued to pile on with another jab, saying, “Shane has been accused of being anti-Asian, which is ironic, considering he has the complexion and physique of a steamed dumpling.”
Shane Gillis Introduces Chelsea Handler To The Crowd At Kevin Hart Roast 😆 pic.twitter.com/CO3DpjChhk
— American Crashout (@AmericaCrashout) May 14, 2026
MORE NEWS: Alternative Cancer Treatment Requests Explode After Joe Rogan and Mel Gibson Discussion [WATCH]
The remark drew laughs from Gillis and the crowd.
The roast brought together many of comedy’s biggest names as part of Netflix Is A Joke Fest in Los Angeles. The night was filled with political jokes and personal attacks that went far beyond simple roasting.
Handler did not limit her barbs to Gillis. She turned her attention to fellow comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who has faced criticism for his ties to the Trump administration.
Handler quipped that Hinchcliffe is “what happens when women don’t have access to abortion care.”
She also took aim at performers who appeared at the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia despite the country’s human rights record. Handler named Kevin Hart, Pete Davidson, and Jeff Ross among those who participated.
“Now that your favorite leader is making the draft mandatory,” Handler said to the group. “I assume that all of you will be signing up to go fight the war in Iran. Or do you tough-talking p—ies only go to the Middle East for comedy festivals?”
While the roast was meant to honor Hart, the sharpest moments came from comedians roasting one another for politics, scandals, and past controversies.
The Roast of Kevin Hart is now streaming on Netflix.
Join the Discussion
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.